Teen who committed suicide had been in 22 foster homes

LYNNWOOD — A boy who jumped to his death from a Lynnwood overpass in January had been on a waiting list for a bed at a state-run psychiatric hospital. He had been in 22 different foster homes since 1998.

The boy, 14, ran away from his Lynnwood-area group home Jan. 21. Just 20 minutes later, he jumped from the Alderwood Mall Parkway overpass onto I-5 below.

His public death, which played out in front of shocked witnesses and stalled traffic on I-5 for hours, haunted many. The state’s Children’s Administration on Wednesday released an executive fatality review of the boy’s death. The administration is a division of the state Department of Social and Health Services.

The boy was a dependent of a Yakama tribal child welfare agency and had been a ward of the state since he was a toddler. The Herald is not naming him because of his age and the circumstances surrounding his death.

State law requires the Children’s Administration to conduct a fatality review every time a child dies unexpectedly while in its care or while receiving its services, spokeswoman Sherry Hill said.

The fatality reviews don’t seek to explain all the circumstances surrounding a child’s death.

“We look at ways to improve education, policy, training and then if there are any legislative changes that may be needed,” Hill said.

During the boy’s life, the Children’s Administration had worked with the welfare agency and tribal courts to provide services to him.

Tribal leaders and tribal health care workers were involved in the fatality review. So were representatives from multiple districts within the Children’s Administration where the boy had lived, Hill said.

Since June 2009, the boy had been in group homes supervised by staff. Just weeks before his death he was placed at Cypress House in the Lynnwood area awaiting room at the psychiatric hospital.

In the year leading up to his being placed in tribal care as a toddler, the boy was visited at least six times by Child Protective Services, records show. Each visit investigated allegations that the boy’s mother was abusing or neglecting her children.

Social workers for years tried to involve the boy’s parents in his care.

His mother committed suicide in 2001. A few years later, his father was sent to prison.

The boy and his siblings’ longest stay in one place was several years in a Yakama Nation foster home. The stability of the home was good for them while they dealt with their mother’s death, the review says. However, the foster father died in 2004, and the grieving foster mother asked for the children to be removed.

After that, the boy had a history of struggling to adjust to new homes. He had significant behavioral and mental health issues, the details of which are blacked out in the report.

The boy in 2009 faced legal trouble in Benton and Yakima counties, court records show. Both cases involved assaults. He was still under active court supervision at the time of his death.

Late last summer, caseworkers started trying to get him into a psychiatric hospital.

The fatality review found that case workers did not consistently convey information about the boy’s history to all involved in his care, especially regarding his behavior issues and safety planning. People at the group home in Lynnwood may not have known about the behaviors that led the state to seek a hospital placement. He was supposed to be under constant “visual and earshot” supervision at the home.

The review team concluded more supervision may have been needed. It also suggested more scrutiny for placing young people with such complex cases outside their home communities.

The review recommends that Children’s Administration workers in similar cases make sure every caregiver has a comprehensive summary of the case. That discussion should occur before the child is placed at the home. The administration also may want to develop additional training for foster parents who care for children with complex mental health and behavioral issues, the team suggested.

In the week after his death, the boy’s body was returned to his family for burial. An obituary that ran in an Eastern Washington newspaper said he was an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation. He spent at least part of his life on the Yakama Reservation and was a member of the Shaker and Longhouse religions.

Memorial services took place over several days in the Yakima area shortly after his body was sent back home.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Oliver Popa, 7, poses with his book, "Drippey Plants a Garden," on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds 7-year-old publishes children’s book featuring ‘Drippey’ the bee

Oliver Popa’s first grade teacher said he should publish a longer version of a writing assignment. A year later, his mother — a publisher — helped made it happen.

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Artist and science communicator Jill Pelto to host 1st art show

New pieces will highlight glaciers, part of the Skykomish and Nooksack watersheds.

Founder and director of New Moon Farm Sanctuary Ellen Felsenthal pets Clara Bow-er, a boer goat that was a part of a larger rescue from Yelm on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington sanctuary gives new life to goats

The sanctuary recently rescued nine goats from Yelm and is nursing the animals back to health.

Bill France poses in one of his custom flat caps after asking his wife, Sarah France, to snap a photo.
Victim advocate dies at 83, leaving a lasting legacy

Bill France, who fought Parkinson’s until the end, was known for his tireless work in victim advocacy.

Search to continue Saturday for missing 21-year-old Arlington man

Jonathan Hoang has been missing since Sunday evening. He was last seen wearing a green shirt, khaki pants, and black slip-on shoes, and possibly carrying his iPad.

Ash Roberts, left, and Wryly T McCutchen, right, browse for book at the Everett Public Library on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It’s being killed’: Federal grant termination hits SnoCo libraries

A federal agency terminated a $3.9 million grant Wednesday that funds library and museum programs across Washington.

Lynnwood
11-year-old tried to stab student in Lynnwood school, deputies say

The child is still at large, the sheriff’s office said, but there is no active threat to the students or staff at the school.

Nichole Webber: Drawing up plays for athletes and politics

The communications director for the city of Everett believes leadership is rooted in honesty, integrity and selfless commitment to others.

2025 Emerging Leader Natalie Given (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Natalie Given: Building trust and communicating concerns

Everett Police Department’s Public Information Officer builds relationship and better communication.

2025 Emerging Leader Melinda Cervantes (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Melinda Cervantes: Making sure every voice is heard

Prolific volunteer facilitates connections between Spanish-speaking public representatives and community members.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.