Jamal Miller
Jamal Miller was 16, and his mother, Cheryl Miller, said he often told her something was wrong with him and that he tried so hard. A Chicago Tribune investigation reported a long history of mental health crises and suicide attempts, and found that bunk beds at the facility were a known hazard that the system had failed to remove. He hanged himself from his bunk bed at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles on September 1, 2009, after being moved back there in August. The state's juvenile justice director, Kurt Friedenauer, said an investigation found no violations of department policy or negligence, while the death came amid criticism of the facility's staffing, training, and aging buildings.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). A Chicago Tribune investigation found that the bunk beds were a known hazard the system had failed to remove, and Kurt Friedenauer, director of the state's juvenile justice department, said an investigation found no violations of department policy or negligence.
Reported by: Tribune investigation (reporters); Kurt Friedenauer, director of the state's department of juvenile justice (the agency that held him).