ST. GEORGE — The legal representative of the Taylor Goodridge family has released an excerpt of the autopsy results from the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office.
In both a phone interview and an autopsy results press release from the family attorney, Alan Mortensen of Mortensen and Milne Law said Friday afternoon the official autopsy results were released on April 7 identifying the cause of death as untreated peritonitis.
The National Library of Medicine defines peritonitis as “an inflammation (irritation) of the peritoneum. This is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs.”
According to the press release, “Taylor died of Peritonitis, an infection of the abdomen tissue. Sepsis ensued and the infection spread to all of Taylor’s vital organs causing complete organ failure.”
The press release stated Taylor, who was 17, died on-site at the Diamond Ranch Academy without seeing a doctor or being taken to the hospital and that this condition is “easily treatable” with antibiotics.
“When you are young, this is easily treated,” Mortensen added.
The release also said the early symptoms of peritonitis are vomiting and a swollen stomach. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of License Inspection Report indicated “documentation supports that the client was ill for at least two weeks.”
Some statements received from the investigation interviews said Taylor was sick as far back as October. The findings of the investigation also reported she had “vomited at least 14 times” during the 12-day period before her death.
On Dec. 9, 2022, she reported back pain, difficulty breathing and difficulty sleeping because of the pain. Interviews and program documentation supported that some of the staff and medical staff dismissed her complaints of pain and discomfort.
According to the press release, she had vomited at least seven times in an 11-hour time frame before collapsing on Dec. 20, 2022.
Mortensen said the filing by the Diamond Ranch Academy, a youth treatment facility in Hurricane, for dismissal was a tactic of the legal proceedings of the courtroom and not anything about the merit of the medical malpractice lawsuit.
“The reason they file for a motion to dismiss is not on the merits of the lawsuit,” Mortensen said. “They were claiming before we can sue them for anything that is medical malpractice we have to go through the medical malpractice review board. So even if it would get dismissed, we would immediately refile it once our board hearing is over.”
Mortensen said a medical review panel hearing is set for July.
The family of Goodridge filed an opposition to the dismissal request by Diamond Ranch Academy earlier on Friday and has been granted a motion to amend/correct their original complaint by Magistrate Judge Paul Kohler. The plaintiff (Goodridge family) has 14 days to file the second amended complaint from April 17.
Mortensen said in the phone interview that the public needs to be informed about this incident.
“Diamond Ranch Academy has been very, very reckless with these kids,” Mortensen said. “While we are sure the school provides jobs to people, they need to provide quality jobs where professional standards are met and kids are protected. If that can’t be met, then we need to look to other industries to do that.”
Dean Goodridge also released an official statement through his representation.
We are devastated to learn that Taylor’s death was entirely preventable had Diamond Ranch Academy cared. We are also dumbfounded that the State of Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services has not held Diamond Ranch Academy accountable for Taylor’s death, settling with Diamond Ranch Academy without any input from our family. Diamond Ranch Academy is now able to continue accepting unknowing students with naive parents so that the owners of Diamond Ranch Academy can continue to earn profits from the misfortunes of its students and their parents. We intend to continue to pursue all avenues to hold Diamond Ranch Academy accountable for her death to make sure this does not happen to other innocent teens and their families.
Neither Diamond Ranch Academy nor its legal representation responded to attempts by St. George News to contact them.
As of March 17, Diamond Ranch Academy was able to again enroll youth for treatment as permitted by the state licensing division under the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The institution still is on conditional license status.
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