Two educators from Pittsfield, Linda Whitacre and Meghan Braley, are charged with manslaughter for their alleged negligence resulting in the drowning of a student, Giver Essien. During a field trip to Benedict Pond, Essien was reportedly unable to swim, and other children warned the staff, but their concerns were dismissed. Investigators found that the educators failed to adhere to state-required water safety protocols, leading to the tragic incident. A grand jury indicted them on multiple serious charges, and they are scheduled to appear in court this summer.
According to Berkshire District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue, at least three other children on the same field trip alerted a site supervisor that the Pittsfield student was unable to swim and had gone underwater.
'The investigation found that the reckless conduct of program coordinator Linda Whitacre and site supervisor Meghan Braley led to Giver's death,' Shugrue said in a press conference Thursday.
A grand jury indicted Braley, 29, and Whitacre, 67, on charges of involuntary manslaughter, permitting serious bodily injury of a child, and reckless endangerment of a child.
They may not have intended this outcome, but their actions, or rather lack thereof, caused this incident.
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