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No criminal charges for death of BIA school student
Tuesday, June 29, 2004

No criminal charges will be filed in the death of an Indian teenager at the Chemawa Indian School in Oregon.

Cindy Gilbert Sohappy, 16, died in a holding cell at the off-reservation boarding school. She had been placed there after allegedly being drunk.

Federal authorities looked into the death but found insufficient evidence to bring charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oregon said.

The BIA stopped using the holding cells in response to the tragedy. The Department of Interior's inspector general has been investigating the death and other conditions at BIA detention facilities.

Get the Story:
Chemawa teen’s death won’t result in criminal charges (The Statesman Journal 6/29)

Oregonian Special Series:
Warm Springs - A Place Where Children Die

Relevant Links:
Warm Springs Tribes - http://www.warmsprings.com

Related Stories:
Anderson won't comment on BIA student's death (03/19)
Anderson visiting BIA schools to share message (3/18)
Ex-Chemawa students recall holding cell experiences (3/18)
Videotape captured teen's death at boarding school (3/1)
IHS holding back information on boarding school death (02/09)
Drinking said rampant at BIA boarding school in Ore. (01/22)
Autopsy: BIA student died of alcohol poisoning (1/16)
Oregonian: Alcohol, drugs and abuse destroy family (01/07)
Terry Cross: U.S. has failed Indian children (12/15)
Warm Springs teen dies at BIA boarding school (12/12)

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