Youth Program’s License Pulled After Boy’s Death
The state is revoking the license of a wilderness program for troubled youth that came under scrutiny after the heat exhaustion death of a 14-year-old boy in July.
Ian August died July 13 during a three-mile hike in west-central Utah after complaining of thirst and exhaustion. Skyline Journey director Mark Wardle and counselor Leigh Hale were charged with child-abuse homicide.
The Utah Department of Human Services said Friday it would pull Skyline Journey’s state license Oct. 25.
Skyline chief executive Lee Wardle said the program would appeal, which would allow Skyline to operate until administrative hearings are complete.
The death was the fifth in a Utah wilderness program since 1990.
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