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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Father Says Mental Home Killed His Son

ANGLETON, Texas (CN) - A father claims employees of a home for the mentally ill killed his 16-year-old son by beating him, tying his arms and legs and throwing him into a closet, where he died.

"The Harris County Medical Examiner ruled the death of Michael Owens a homicide," Wesley Owens claims in Brazoria County Court.

Owens sued the owners and operators of the home in Manvel, Texas: Shiloh Treatment Center, Day Star Residential, and Behavior Training Research.

"On or about November 5, 2010 Michael Owens became aggravated when he was in the psychological ward of the facility," the complaint states.

"The employees of the defendants proceeded to physically assault Michael Owens and in the process, broke his nose, and caused severe injuries to other parts of his body.

"The employees of defendants crudely bound Michael Owens' arms and legs together with ropes to restrain him. The employees then threw Michael Owens into a closet where he died."

Owens says he placed his son in the home because its operators falsely claimed they "had the requisite ability, skill, competence, know-how and information" to care for him.

"Defendants further represented that Michael Owens would be protected from physical and mental abuse and that if restraint were used, it would only be used in situations of an emergency, only to prevent Michael Owens from injuring himself or others," the father says.

Wesley Owens, who also sued on behalf of Michael's mother, Gwyneda Seymour, seeks punitive damages for criminal negligence, gross negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death.

He is represented by Keith Purdue with Grossman Law Offices.

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