November 8, 2009

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

Gettysburg Teen Death Investigation

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By Associated Press

Story Created: Jun 17, 2008 at 12:29 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 17, 2008 at 12:29 PM CST

The Faulk County state's attorney says he's waiting for a state Division of Criminal Investigation report and then will decide whether any charges will be filed in the death of a Gettysburg teenager. The prosecutor, Tim Bormann, says the 14-year-old was hurt during a fight at a street dance in Orient early on May 26.

The youth, whose name was not released, was taken to Gettysburg for treatment of his injuries and then was transferred to Sioux Falls, where he died June 7. Bormann says he hopes to have all reports and autopsy results later this week.

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Sunday, Jan 11 at 9:59 PM A Miller Student wrote ...

Miller Moms-I can sure tell who had "fun" back in high school. A schedule for your kids? If I wanted to play board games with my parents, it surely wouldnt be on the weekends. What ruins your kids in the end, they never experience real life situations/partying in high school. And then never have the brains to know when drinking results in not knowing their limits in college. If you want your kids to end up as the person who drinks their life away in college, I recommend you stick to your plan.

Friday, Jan 9 at 8:09 PM Adrian wrote ...

Let's be honest: Orient is a hole in the ground that needs to burn down to improve. I can't stand the sight nor the smell of that hole.

Friday, Jul 11 at 10:17 PM a loving friend wrote ...

For one thing, this boy was an amazing person and Orient isn't a bad town, if you havn't noticed or been there most of the ppl there are in their 40s to 80s..in my eyes these dances are just life school dances, the p/o club puts on a DJ to raise money and kids come, they bring their own beer and they make the choices! This is a trust issue, if you don't trust your kid enough then why let them leave the house? my parents trusted me enough to go to them and i never drank at them!

Sunday, Jul 6 at 8:28 PM another miller mom wrote ...

To the Miller Mom- Assuming your student in in high school, there are athletic programs through out the school year. Try FFA,or FCCLA or the school play, or band or a church youth group. Lots of kids have part time jobs. If there is time leftover after school activities and the part time job, try enlisting them in chores at home, family board games, watch a movie with your family. Kids do not need "entertainment" round the clock- they just need activity- be a parent!!!

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 8:09 AM Miller Mom wrote ...

Does anyone have any ideas for entertainment for our youth? (YEAR ROUND)

Saturday, Jun 28 at 10:09 AM Miller Mom wrote ...

dkaj, I think you are missing the point, teenage drinking is not OK PERIOD!!!! It is illegal, and it is deadly. We need to get this message out to the kids and find an alternative to drinking. Trust me, I lost my son in a drinking accident. It is not worth the risk.

Friday, Jun 27 at 8:30 PM dkaj wrote ...

I have been attending these Orient dances for the few years. Some people are making these dances sound so horrible. There is lots of kids that attend that dont drink and still have a good time. I know lots of kids that come to orient from the surrounding towns and they have a designated driver to drive them home if they are drinking or they spend the night in their car and drive home in the morming. I dont think by banning these dance will stop minors form drinking they will go somewhere else

Friday, Jun 27 at 12:17 PM Miller Mom wrote ...

Miller or Polo/Orient doesn't really make a difference. The idea here is for us as parents to come up with some other form of entertainment for our kids. Drinking seems to be the only entertainment around the area on the weekends. What else do they have to do? Think about that, maybe we can pull together and do something possitive for this problem. Need some ideas, any ideas you have please write in.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 8:43 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Parents show your kids these comments...let them know that there are other parents really concerned about these issues. Talked to them, discourage them from attending these parties and if you know of a "fund raiser" being held and are concern..contact the law enforcement in that area, make them aware of it also. It may save a life!!!!

Thursday, Jun 26 at 8:40 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Hello---Do you see a problem here, as you stated drinking and fight go hand and hand??? Ask yourself is there some way to lessen these actions??? And kids are taking these gravel roads to avoid being pickup up.. Stop and think for a moment if maybe we could all make a difference in these situations and espically as adults and discourage this type of behavior. And believe me as a mom and dad you are responsible for your children, their gifts from GOD.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 8:23 PM To Miller Mom wrote ...

How about you quit making your town of "Miller" sound so perfect. Im pretty sure there is just as much drinking that goes on in Miller as anywhere. Underage drinking happens everywhere so let not be pointing fingers at the Polo/orient area.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 2:18 PM P*ssed off wrote ...

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?? People drink and people fight.. it doesn't matter if someone is 14,18,or 25. Drunk people fight. You don't like it than DON'T go to these parties. So this happened in Orient. Big deal!! It could have been anywhere. Would you rather these kids be driving around on gravel roads and having a 90 % bigger chance of dieing or going to an innocent dance. I guess if you aren't responsible enough to make good choices then maybe you shouldn't be there.

Thursday, Jun 26 at 11:55 AM Miller Mom wrote ...

The underage drinking is a very real and serious problem. We as parents and adults need to make every attempt to make sure our kids understand all of the consequences of drinking and driving, and excercise our parental rights to help in stopping the purchasing of alcohol by adults for our kids. It seems to be more excercised in the Polo, Orient area due to the reputation of that area. We all need to talk to our kids everyday, tell them they don't need to drink to have a fun time.

Tuesday, Jun 24 at 10:50 PM Huron wrote ...

Amen to that. How many 14 year old donors do you hear of? These parents obviously did something right to have raised such an amazing and thoughtful person. They should be proud. ♥

Tuesday, Jun 24 at 9:47 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This 14 year old saved 4 peoples lives by being the loving, generous person he was. Four people remain living today because of his wish to donate his organs. Thats his legacy!!!

Tuesday, Jun 24 at 7:26 AM Chuck Norris wrote ...

What is taking so long in the investigation, why isnt there any arrests made if everyone is so certain an adult did this????

Monday, Jun 23 at 9:34 AM jh wrote ...

regarding all the comments about fighting......FYI some of the fights are done by ADULTS, so why are people slamming the minors & "lack" of parental supervision when there are adults, that should know better, that are drinking & fighting. Stop being so willing to cast blame where it doesn't lie. Again, the only one to blame in this situation is the ADULT that caused the blow that killed the kid. Too bad the 14 yr olds legacy is being tarnished by stupidity & ignorance.

Monday, Jun 23 at 9:26 AM jh wrote ...

I am so tired of people blaming Orient & it's townspeople. They didn't & don't force minors to drink & they don't contribute to it. They had a dance, like tons of other towns do & if someone does something stupid like fight & kill someone, blame them. I have been to Orient dances & there are so many ways to get away with drinking where the adults/cops have no clue that you are or where you got it. Besides, if parents have a problem with it, keep your kids at home.

Sunday, Jun 22 at 7:39 PM Anonymous wrote ...

answer to samwise--I dont think it is complianing as you stated as it is encouraging people to stop making it so easy for minors. That is one way I see people trying to do something.

Saturday, Jun 21 at 5:06 PM samwise wrote ...

Don't always blame underage drinking. For all we know the death was the result of drunk adults. Before you blame people, look in the mirror, what have you done to help fix the situation aside from complaining about other people not doing anything or covering it up.

Friday, Jun 20 at 9:38 PM Larry T. wrote ...

Kids in small towns can get by with anything. I grew up in Blunt mand got by with everything. The Hughes County Sheriff's Office was agood 30 minutes away. Most of us kids drank with mom and dad. So what?

Friday, Jun 20 at 9:27 PM MadMom wrote ...

To anonymous 1:35PM: You are right, no one will provide answers to either teen death. If you read posts on both articles you will see that the attitude of many Orient/Polo people is that these things happen and is certainly not their fault. It is way past time to stop these events, or clean them up. How many kids must die before these communities decide to stop generations of alcohol abuse and lying to protect their own. Keep the pressure on!!!!

Friday, Jun 20 at 12:35 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I had a friend that was killed up in that area, who was also a minor and yes the accident was alcohol related. Please hmmmm dont tell people to Shut up...that is what has caused so many unanswers in my fiends death, because no one will talk. I know the pain this 14 year childs family and friends are feeling...but imagine the pain when nothing is done to stop these issues. Put yourself in these parents shoes.

Thursday, Jun 19 at 8:37 PM dh:6/19/08 wrote ...

underage drinking is out of control and WILL be until we take a stand; it is ILLEGAL...but it is condoned by parents and law enforcement. I have heard a lot of comments about the death. I am sorry for all involved. Fights and underage drinking used to be the norm; times have changed; people are held accountable. It is the law. Parents, communities, and law enforcement have to have a BACKBONE and stand up to underage drinking...and curfew violatins. Know where your kids are,what they r doi

Thursday, Jun 19 at 8:35 PM From the area.. wrote ...

I would have to agree with Tony. I grew up in a town by Orient and I personaly attended many of the imfamous Orient street dances. It is not a difficult task for a minor to get a hold of alcohol. You dont need to know anyone or have a "connection", you could walk up to virtually anyone and get them to buy for you. If under-age kids go to Orient wanting to drink, it will happen.

Thursday, Jun 19 at 7:43 PM tony you ROCK RIGHT ON wrote ...

Ok first of all he was prolly having fun and it just didn't turn out the way it was supposed to happen maybe he was bulled and then it just went to far you dont kno all the facts so stop talking!!!

Thursday, Jun 19 at 5:32 PM Ms jones wrote ...

what is a 14 yr old doing at a street dance anyway? what happen to curfew in towns? i feel nothing is really getting done on this matter? there is alot of questions that needs to be answered and its not. this is the longest story that hasn't sent anyoine to jail for this boys dealth

Thursday, Jun 19 at 4:34 PM very mad wrote ...

i would just like to say everyone shut up if u dont know what is going on cause it is very rude and mean to the family and friends when people just talk about this like any other story. Ya it might be to u but it isn't to them. They lost there child and friend so please just shut up!!!

Thursday, Jun 19 at 1:02 PM Anonymous wrote ...

whatruthinking needs to grow up! All they were saying is that they want things to end and let the family have their time and not worry about what everyone else is saying about their child!!!!!

Thursday, Jun 19 at 12:12 PM to anonymous wrote ...

Q.What is the best way to keep your kids from drinking? A. Don't have any kids.

Thursday, Jun 19 at 11:19 AM whatruthinking? wrote ...

hey hmmmmm that's how rumor's get started. LACK OF INFORMATION

Thursday, Jun 19 at 8:51 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Do you know what the best way to keep your kids from drinking is?.... DONT DRINK AROUND YOUR CHILDREN!!. All I am saying is lead by example.

Thursday, Jun 19 at 7:10 AM peace wrote ...

I agree with "hmmm" have respect...don't jump to conclusions. Justice will be served...

Wednesday, Jun 18 at 9:50 PM hmmm wrote ...

i just want to say before things get out of controll on this blog to...just leave things alone know one know's whats going on but the family and some of the friends so please quit spredin rumors about what you think or what you heard was going on unless you were there or are involved with DCI...honestly have respect for the family and friends

Wednesday, Jun 18 at 5:31 PM PH wrote ...

Tony-we parents and communities don't have to lie down and 'accept that kids are going to drink' If the entire community decides this is not acceptabe and addresses it together it can get better...I think alot of parents have lost htier backbones or they are so busy bailing the kids out of trouble and making excuses for thier bad behavior they forget to teach thier children values.

Wednesday, Jun 18 at 5:11 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Mr. Tony refer back to the "suspicious death in Gettsburg comments, they might add alittle insight as to why the question is being asked "where did the liquor come from" if they were drinking. Which is this case as in others will be hush, hush.

Wednesday, Jun 18 at 8:27 AM Miller wrote ...

Ignorance is the worst enemy for our drinking teenagers. To put a stop to alot of these problems, start by holding the adults that buy for underage kids accountable. This would sure put a damper on alot of these problems. Usually it is young adults that are still running around doing the teen thing and don't have the responsible mentality yet to not buy for the kids.

Tuesday, Jun 17 at 11:42 PM Tony wrote ...

This is a vey unfortunate thing that has happened to all involved. No one is perfect. God bless the families involved.

Tuesday, Jun 17 at 11:36 PM Tony wrote ...

One of my points is how do you know (Mr./Mrs. 6.15.08 @ 9:58pm) that someone is "selling" booze to minors? Could it have came from the fridge of their own parents without them knowing? Or mabey they have friends or connections with someone that is old enough to buy. I went to HS in Miller and that town wasn't any better than Orient. Neither was any other town in South Dakota. Under-age drinking is going to happen in almost every town across America, we can't change the facts.

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