A staff member at a therapeutic residential school in Swansea died after the Bristol County District Attorney’s office said a 14-year-old student kicked the woman in the chest.
Amy Morrell, 53, of Riverside, Rhode Island, died Thursday after an incident the night before.
Morrell worked at Meadowridge Academy, which is owned by Justice Resource Institute (JRI). The residential school provides education and treatment to youth and young adults with mental health issues, behavioral difficulties and complex trauma histories.
At about 6:55 p.m. on Wednesday, a 14-year-old girl was attempting to leave a dorm building without permission. Staff, including Morrell, attempted to restrain her.
The 14-year-old then kicked Morrell in the chest, according to the district attorney’s office. Shortly after, Morrell collapsed.
Staff began CPR and called 911. Swansea EMS arrived and took the woman to the hospital.
The 14-year-old was charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and was arraigned Thursday morning in the Fall River Juvenile Court.
Thursday afternoon, however, Morrell died after remaining at the hospital overnight.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Restrains are not uncommon at JRI locations.
In the 2023-2024 school year, Meadowridge Academy used restraints on nine students a total of 23 times. The year before 15 students were restrained a total of 43 times. At the Meadowridge Swansea Wood Campus, restraints were used on eight students a total of 16 times in 2023-2024. And at JRI’s Meadowridge Littleton Academy Campus restraints were used 78 times on seven students.
No students have been reported injured at JRI locations due to restraints.
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