A caretaker called Ada County Dispatch around 8:19 am on 4/18/2024 to report that they had found their young teenage son deceased in their residence on W. Russett Street. Responding officers began investigating the situation, finding deplorable conditions in the home where eight children lived, including the deceased young teen.
The teen’s cause of death has not been determined at this time. Boise Police Violent Crime Detectives, who investigate all unattended deaths in circumstances such as these, are being assisted by Special Victims Unit Detectives in this investigation. Special Victims Unit Detectives normally investigate cases of potential child neglect or injury. The Ada County Coroner’s Office is also working to determine the cause and manner of death in this case.
Special Victims Unit Lieutenant Josiah Ransom described the conditions inside the home as being “deplorable, unsafe, and some of the worst he has seen in his career” and not fit for habitation by anyone, let alone children. The smell of the home was also nauseating to officers on scene. Following an investigation, seven children living in the home were placed into the custody of the Department of Health and Welfare.
All those affiliated with the household have been cooperative in the investigation as police work to determine exactly what caused this young person’s death.
No charges have been filed in this case at this time.
Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar said “It is always troubling when a young person dies and our officers and detectives are working diligently to determine what factors may have contributed to this situation and what, if anything, could have been done to prevent it. We will not know until the investigation is complete if this teen’s death was due to an ongoing medical situation/complication, or some other contributing factor, and I express my sympathy for the passing of this young boy.”
BPD will release further details about the incident as they become available.