Asphyxiation death at counseling center
Anne Warfield
Cops probe girl's death at counseling site in Elgin
An 11-year-old mentally retarded girl died of asphyxiation at
an Elgin counseling center after being pinned to the floor face-down
by two case managers from the Little City Foundation in Palatine,
authorities said Wednesday.
Elgin police were re-intervieewing the two workers late
Wednesday to try to determine exactly what Tina Winston was doing, how
she was restrained and how much time elapsed before authorities were
called.
Police said, the two were taken to the counseling center to
reenact what occurred. "Was she swinging her arms? Was she biting?
Was it just a matter of her not responding to commands?" said Elgin
Lt. Scott Davis.
Little City has suspended the two case managers, who are
professionals trained in crisis prevention, behavior management and
developmental disabilities.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is
investigating the death after receiving an anonymous tip alleging that
Tina had been abused.
Elgin police and the Kane county prosecutor's office are still
investigating, and no charges will be filed until they learn more
about the incident, they said.
Kathy Posner, vice president of the board of Little City,
which serves developmentally disabled children and adults, said the
workers' suspension was routine.
"It doesn't mean our people did anything improper. This is a
case that is still under investigation", she said.
Tina, a ward of the state, was receiving medication and
counseling for behavioral problems, including aggression and
occasional outbursts. She was taken to Northwest Treatment Associates
in Elgin on Monday evening for an appointment with counselors.
Police responded to a call around 7 p.m. Monday and found Tina
unresponsive, Sgt. Tom Linder said. Police notified paramedics, who
took the girl to Sherman Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 8
p.m.
About an hour later, DCFS received an anonymous tip to its
abuse hot line accusing Little City of neglect, said Marjorie Newman,
a DCFS spokeswoman.
Kane County Coroner David Moore completed his autopsy Tuesday,
but did not give the cause of death as asphyxiation until Wednesday
afternoon. He would not reveal specifics about his findings,
including any contributing factors that might have led to her death.
Toxicology results are pending.
Northwest Treatment Association and Little City both had at
least two staff members in the room with Tina. Therese Wrona,
founder and co-director of the counseling center, said counselors do
not restrain clients.
"There have been times when a child has had to be restrained
here. If [the caretakers] need that to happen, it is their
responsibility. We are not trained or allowed to do that," Wrona
said.
Her agency specializes in sexual-abuse treatment, and Wrona
said she and her five contract employees often deal with depressed,
delinquent clients referred by the courts or other agencies. There
has been no similar incident in the facility's five-year history, she
said.
Tina's death is the first in Little City's 41-year history,
Posner said. The children's home is licensed to care for 80
residents.
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Anne Warfield
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