Ja’Ceon Terry would have celebrated his “golden birthday” this year.
The boy, who spent nearly half his life in foster care in Kentucky, would have turned ten on August 10 – a milestone birthday in the double digits.
This year also marks a much more somber occasion – the second anniversary of his death. On July 17, 2022, 7-year-old Ja’Ceon was living at Brooklawn, a care facility in Louisville, when he was restrained by two staff members until he stopped breathing.
The coroner ruled his death a homicide. But two years later, prosecutors have still not filed charges against those involved in his death.
KyCIR has contacted the Jefferson County District Attorney four times over the past year to inquire about the progress of Ja’Ceon’s case, receiving essentially the same response each time.
“I can confirm that one of the prosecutors in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in Jefferson County is still working to review materials, facts and other components related to Ja’Ceon Terry,” said Erran Huber, the press secretary, in late July. “Because this is an ongoing process, I cannot share any further information beyond the confirmation.”
Until last year, state authorities had released very little information about the circumstances of Ja’Ceon’s death. But in July 2023, the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting obtained records that showed not only that his death was preventable, but that the facility had repeatedly failed to ensure his safety.
We found that Ja’Ceon was emotionally abused in his final hours at Brooklawn, left alone in his room for nearly six hours, and when staff decided to physically restrain him, they violated multiple state and facility policies.
Following his death, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services revoked Brooklawn’s license to operate its mental health treatment facilities where Ja’Ceon lived. His foster parents also sued the facility for wrongful death and privately settled with the company in May 2023.
Although there appears to be little progress in the criminal case, Ja’Ceon’s story is still being told.
In June, Paris Hilton testified before Congress as an advocate for foster children. Although she was never in foster care herself, Hilton was placed in four different residential treatment facilities as a teenager. She said she was sexually abused, forcibly restrained and forcibly medicated during her time there.
“I know from personal experience the damage that comes from being placed in a youth home,” she said. “Can you imagine what it’s like for young people who are placed in the state and don’t have people to check on them regularly?”
Hilton also spoke about Ja’Ceon, citing our 2023 KyCIR investigation into his death.
“In his final hours, he was publicly pilloried, verbally abused, left alone in his room for nearly six hours and physically restrained by staff until he lost consciousness. When emergency responders arrived, he had vomit in his mouth and throat, running down his cheeks and onto the floor,” she said. “Why can’t we as a society recognize that these children are suffering? They need love and kindness, not beatings and restraints.”
Nationwide, more than 50,000 young people are housed in nursing homes.
In June, the Senate Finance Committee released the results of a two-year investigation into some of the nation’s largest operators of residential treatment facilities for children. They concluded that these facilities lack necessary oversight and that they “put profits ahead of the welfare and safety of children.”
Hilton helped pass nine state laws tightening controls on residential facilities and said she will not stop “until America’s youth are safe.”
“If you are a child in the system, listen to what I am saying,” she said. “I see you. I believe you. I know what you are going through. And I will not give up on you.”
