The tragic death of Max Benson, a 13-year-old autistic boy from California shook the country, and now, almost a year after the horrific incident in which he lost his life, Max’s mother, Stacia Langley, speaks of the life without him and of the case.
Max was attending the special needs school Guiding Hands School Inc. located in El Dorado, which was supposed to be a safe place for its students, but sadly, it wasn’t.
In one occasion, Max was restrained face against floor and kept in that position for more than an hour during which he became unresponsive.
3 special ed administrators being charged in the Nov 2018 death of Max Benson appeared in an El Dorado Co Courtroom. Benson’s special ed teacher, Kimberly Wohlwend, his principal, Staranne Meyers, and the school’s executive director, Cindy Keller all pleaded not guilty. @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/XyHPh50Eg7
— Doug Johnson (@DougJohnsonFX40) 13 November 2019
The El Dorado District Attorney announced they were filing charges against three people involved in the incident, Cindy Keller, the school’s executive director, Staranne Meyers, the school’s principal, and Kimberly Wohlwend, a special education teacher.
They have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, and the school is facing charges of felony involuntary manslaughter.
“This charge is based on the November 28, 2018, prone restraint of a minor student by Kimberly Wohlwend that resulted in that student’s death. This case is being filed after a lengthy, multi-agency investigation into the facts and circumstances that led to the death of this student.“
Former employees at Guiding Hands write posters in support of three employees facing a Judge today- now charged with manslaughter in the death of student, Max Benson @CBSSacramento pic.twitter.com/2XO2uPAjSp
— Marissa Perlman (@MPerlmanNews) 13 November 2019
After they noticed Max had stopped breathing, one of the teachers tried to revive him via CPR before he was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center where he died two days later.
Nearly one year ago, 13-year-old Max Benson became unresponsive at school after investigators say a special education teacher restrained the autistic child in a face-down position. He later died at the hospital. Today the DA announced criminal charges in connection with his death pic.twitter.com/OJWDuC0tdv
— Bridgette Bjorlo (@bridgettebjorlo) 13 November 2019
Speaking to Sacramento Bee, Max’s mom said, “I haven’t done much except just cry. He had a big personality. He was full of life, he was funny, he was all the things you want your kid to be. People get the wrong idea about autism and what it means. In reality, Max was 5 feet 3 inches tall and only had social delays.”
Attorney Linda Parisi is representing Guiding Hands School owners Cindy Keller and Starranne Meyers. Both women, and a teacher, were charged with involuntary manslaughter and arraigned today for the death of 13 y/o student Max Benson. pic.twitter.com/u7p3PgoLOV
— Sawsan Morrar (@sawsan24) 14 November 2019
As the defendants are expected back in court on January 7, the attorney for Keller and Meyers, Linda Parisi said of her clients, “It is always a tragedy when there is a loss of life especially such a young life and a student. These two women have dedicated literally their entire lives to helping, educating, encouraging and working with special needs students.”