Staffers Facing Charges After MA 12-Year-Old Dies On School Trip

PITTSFIELD, MA — Two Pittsfield Public Schools staffers were indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the drowning death of a 12-year-old student during a summer field trip.

Meghan Braley, 29, and Linda Whitacre, 67, were also charged with permitting serious bodily injury of a child and reckless endangerment of a child, both misdemeanors.

Whitacre was the coordinator of the Pittsfield Public Schools 21st Century program and Braley was the program's site supervisor when 12 year old student Giver Essien drowned on a field trip to Beartown State Forest in Great Barrington nearly a year ago in July, according to a statement released by Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue's office.

"They did not intend for this outcome, but their actions, or rather lack thereof, caused the incident.," Shugrue said during a press conference held Thursday to announce the indictments, according to the statement.

The July field trip included swimming in Benedict Pond, the statement said.

"According to investigations, the field trip was running behind schedule," the statement said. "Originally, field trip organizers planned to have two small swimming groups of approximately 15 students each; however, when swimming began ... all 35 children were allowed access to the water."

This included Essien, despite at least three children informing Braley that she could not swim, Shugrue said during the press conference.

No one realized Essien was missing until the children boarded a bus to return from the trip, Shugrue's office said, and emergency responders from Great Barrington and Monterey launched a search effort.

Essien's body was located and pulled from the water about a half hour after students started boarding the bus, the statement said.

"The investigation into Giver’s death was complex. It included interviews with students, chaperones, and Pittsfield Public School staff," according to the statement.

During the press conference, Shugrue said the "investigation revealed lapses in supervision and safety protocols during the trip."

"Although students were grouped initially, they frequently moved between groups without consistent oversight," he said. "There was no roll call system in place to ensure children were accounted for while in the water, nor was there a buddy system or any other swim safety mechanism implemented. Accountability for children's whereabouts in the water was unclear, and no list was maintained to identify who was swimming at any given time. Swimmers’ abilities were not tested. Alarmingly, children who could not swim were allowed into the water, and life jackets or flotation devices were not readily available to staff."

Neither Braley nor Whitacre have been taken into custody and they are not considered flight risks, said Julia Sabourin, the chief of staff for the district attorney's office.

Whitacre's arraignment was scheduled for July and Braley's for August, Sabourin said.