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Teen deaths shock county
By Chris Michlewicz
The apparent suicide deaths of three Douglas County teens have shocked the community and left many wondering if the tragedies are connected.
Authorities have not identified the teens, but said a 16-year-old male Lutheran High School Parker junior, a 16-year-old male Chaparral High School student and a 15-year-old female student who attends Castle View High School were all found dead within 24 hours of each other, Nov. 16 and 17.
Police still are looking into the cause of the deaths, but they are investigating them as suicides. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has not found anything to indicate the deaths are connected, said Cocha Heyden, public information officer.
One of the boys, the Lutheran student, was found dead in his Franktown home around 4 p.m. Nov. 16. The county coroner has yet to rule on a cause and manner of death, but “detectives on scene did not find anything that would lead them to think foul play was involved,” Heyden said. She could not identify the teen by name.
The Douglas County School District learned of the Chaparral student’s death the morning of Nov. 17, and later in the day found out that a Castle View student also was found deceased. Whei Wong, spokeswoman for the district, could not identify the students.
Teachers were provided consistent basic information to share at the same time with students during class, Wong said.
Parents of students at all of the schools were notified about the incidents.
Juls Clausen, principal of Lutheran High School Parker, said he asked parents to “keep the school and the family in their prayers and let them know if there is anything we can do.”
Authorities have not identified the teens, but said a 16-year-old male Lutheran High School Parker junior, a 16-year-old male Chaparral High School student and a 15-year-old female student who attends Castle View High School were all found dead within 24 hours of each other, Nov. 16 and 17.
Police still are looking into the cause of the deaths, but they are investigating them as suicides. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has not found anything to indicate the deaths are connected, said Cocha Heyden, public information officer.
One of the boys, the Lutheran student, was found dead in his Franktown home around 4 p.m. Nov. 16. The county coroner has yet to rule on a cause and manner of death, but “detectives on scene did not find anything that would lead them to think foul play was involved,” Heyden said. She could not identify the teen by name.
The Douglas County School District learned of the Chaparral student’s death the morning of Nov. 17, and later in the day found out that a Castle View student also was found deceased. Whei Wong, spokeswoman for the district, could not identify the students.
Teachers were provided consistent basic information to share at the same time with students during class, Wong said.
Parents of students at all of the schools were notified about the incidents.
Juls Clausen, principal of Lutheran High School Parker, said he asked parents to “keep the school and the family in their prayers and let them know if there is anything we can do.”
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