NoodleNarwhal
Well-known member
Tragedy Strikes Massachusetts School: 53-Year-Old Staffer Dies After Student's Alleged Assault
A devastating incident has shaken the Meadowridge Academy in Swansea, Massachusetts, after a 53-year-old staffer, Amy Morrell, died following an altercation with a 14-year-old student. The incident occurred on Wednesday at approximately 6:55 p.m., when the teenager attempted to leave her dorm building without permission.
As staff and employees intervened to stop her, the student allegedly kicked Morrell in the chest, prompting immediate response. Her colleagues performed CPR, while calling 911. Morrell was then transported to a hospital, where she remained overnight in critical condition before being pronounced dead the following afternoon.
The cause of death has not been officially disclosed by authorities. An investigation is currently underway, with the Swansea Police and Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's office handling the case. The 14-year-old student, who has been identified as a resident of the school, has been charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury.
Meadowridge Academy, a residential therapeutic school serving youths aged 12 to 21, has faced scrutiny in the past following a report by the Disability Law Center. This report highlighted substantiated incidents of abuse and neglect between 2014 and 2016, but noted that the school had implemented corrective measures such as increased surveillance and enhanced staff training.
The academy has since expressed its condolences to Morrell's family, stating that support services are being made available for students and staff alike. Friends and colleagues describe Morrell as deeply committed to her role, a dedicated professional who "loved her job."
As the investigation into Morrell's death continues, questions remain about the school's safety protocols and how such incidents can be prevented in the future.
A devastating incident has shaken the Meadowridge Academy in Swansea, Massachusetts, after a 53-year-old staffer, Amy Morrell, died following an altercation with a 14-year-old student. The incident occurred on Wednesday at approximately 6:55 p.m., when the teenager attempted to leave her dorm building without permission.
As staff and employees intervened to stop her, the student allegedly kicked Morrell in the chest, prompting immediate response. Her colleagues performed CPR, while calling 911. Morrell was then transported to a hospital, where she remained overnight in critical condition before being pronounced dead the following afternoon.
The cause of death has not been officially disclosed by authorities. An investigation is currently underway, with the Swansea Police and Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's office handling the case. The 14-year-old student, who has been identified as a resident of the school, has been charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury.
Meadowridge Academy, a residential therapeutic school serving youths aged 12 to 21, has faced scrutiny in the past following a report by the Disability Law Center. This report highlighted substantiated incidents of abuse and neglect between 2014 and 2016, but noted that the school had implemented corrective measures such as increased surveillance and enhanced staff training.
The academy has since expressed its condolences to Morrell's family, stating that support services are being made available for students and staff alike. Friends and colleagues describe Morrell as deeply committed to her role, a dedicated professional who "loved her job."
As the investigation into Morrell's death continues, questions remain about the school's safety protocols and how such incidents can be prevented in the future.
this is just devastating news, my heart goes out to amy morrels family and loved ones, 53 is way too young to have left us 
. you've got to wonder what could've been done differently that night, was she properly trained for dealing with situations like this? 
and how did the school's safety protocols fail her so miserably? 
they're already saying support services are being made available, but it's not gonna bring amy back 
. i hope the investigation finds out exactly what happened and some real change comes out of it 
i mean, what was she supposed to do when she tried to leave? just sit there and watch her get kicked? didnt think so 
school needs to rethink their whole residential program, maybe get rid of the dorms altogether 
this is just so sad... i mean 53 years old is way too young to go out like that... my heart goes out to amy morrells family, rest in peace 
, i feel for Amy's family and loved ones, they must be going through a nightmare 
. And the fact that the student was only 14, i can imagine what kind of pressures and temptations they must be facing at that age 
.
. I hope the investigation gets to the bottom of this and that the school takes some real action to prevent this kind of thing from happening again 
. You will be deeply missed by everyone who knew you 
.
. I mean don't get me wrong, this school thing is super serious but seriously have you seen the Battle of Wits scene in "Pulp Fiction"? it's just so iconic 
Amy Morrell was like, an adult, you know? And she got killed by a teenager who couldn't even follow simple rules... it's crazy. And what's with the lack of info on the cause of death? Like, are we gonna find out that the school was actually negligent or something? 
... 53 years old, just doing her job, and what happens? A kid's recklessness is gonna take someone's life. It's like, yeah we know there were some issues with the school in the past, but that doesn't excuse this 
... she sounded like such a great person, loved her job and stuff. It's just not fair that she got taken from us 
. I hope the school takes responsibility for what happened and actually does something to prevent it in the future. Safety protocols need to be way more strict, you know? 
Can't let kids run wild on staff members like that...
. The school needs 2 step up their game & make sure these kids r safe n sound 
. Morrell was described as a "dedicated pro" & I bet she loved her job just as much as we love our faves 
. RIP Amy, ur gonna be missed 