A Tennessee Department of Children’s Services employee has been fired and another has resigned after a 14-year-old boy died while in state custody.
The teen, who had been in DCS care for less than a year, was living at the Madison County Residential Center in Jackson, Tennessee. According to officials, he was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Department of Children’s Services confirmed that an internal investigation led to the termination of one staff member and the resignation of another.
While the state has not released the boy’s name or the exact circumstances surrounding his death, DCS Commissioner Margie Quin said they are fully cooperating with law enforcement and reviewing all aspects of the incident.
“This is heartbreaking. We take our responsibility for these children very seriously, and when something like this happens, we have to take immediate action,” Quin said.
The TBI is assisting in the investigation. A reward is being offered for information related to the teen’s death.