On December 20, 2022, Taylor Goodridge, a 17-year-old Native American girl, passed away after collapsing at Diamond Ranch Academy, a Utah-based boarding school for troubled teens.
According to a recent autopsy report by the Utah Medical Examiner’s office, Taylor died from peritonitis, an infection that causes inflammation of the abdominal tissue leading to sepsis, a life-threatening condition resulting from the body’s response to infection.
The autopsy found that the infection had spread to Taylor’s vital organs, causing them to fail. Taylor had complained of symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and a swollen stomach for several weeks before her death, which require immediate medical attention, including antibiotics and surgery in some cases.
Following Taylor’s death, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services conducted an investigation into the matter and discovered that the boarding school failed to seek medical care for Taylor, even when she vomited on multiple occasions. The report stated that Taylor had shown signs of illness since October, and her symptoms had worsened in the days leading up to her death. However, the school only attempted to take her to the hospital on the day she died.
In a statement, Taylor’s parents expressed their grief and anger, stating that their daughter’s death could have been prevented if Diamond Ranch Academy had provided the necessary care. They have filed a lawsuit against the boarding school in federal court to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Diamond Ranch Academy’s lawyer, Bill Frazier, refused to comment on the autopsy report as neither he nor the school had seen it. Frazier referred to Taylor’s death as a “tragic circumstance” but stated that the school could not comment further due to privacy laws. He also claimed that the school disagreed with many aspects of the former staff members’ accounts.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services placed Diamond Ranch Academy’s license on probation and suspended its enrollment following Taylor’s death.
However, in March, the state lifted the enrollment restrictions, stating that the school had made the necessary changes to become compliant. The school will be subject to additional inspections until the end of July and may lose its license if it violates state rules.
Diamond Ranch Academy is accredited by the Joint Commission, a national nonprofit organization that sets standards for medical and behavioral health care facilities.
When asked about the school in question, The Joint Commission chose not to respond to any queries, but instead provided an overview of its typical protocol for managing incident reports, which involves scrutinizing and potentially revoking accreditation if deemed necessary.