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2 Educators Charged with Manslaughter After Girl, 12, Drowns on School Field Trip

On July 17, 2024, twelve-year-old Giver Essien drowned while participating in a Pittsfield Public Schools field trip held at Beartown State Forest near Great Barrington.
Investigations found that safety laws were not followed, with over 35 students allowed to swim at once despite a permit for 25 and no swim tests administered.
At least three children told site supervisor Meghan Braley that Essien could not swim and had gone underwater, but those warnings were ignored and no proper swim safety systems were in place.
Essien was pulled from Benedict Pond at 1:58 p.m. after staff realized she was missing only after students boarded the bus, and the death was ruled a drowning.
Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue has charged Linda Whitacre, a program coordinator, and Meghan Braley, who served as the site supervisor, with involuntary manslaughter and related misdemeanors. Whitacre’s arraignment is planned for mid-July, while Braley’s is set for August.

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WPTZ

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2 educators charged with manslaughter after girl, 12, drowns on school field trip

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Boston Globe

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