Workers at a New Mexico group home for boys allegedly ignored urgent pleas to check on a teenager as he died by suicide in the facility’s bathroom, choosing instead to stay on their phones, according to an investigation.
Jaydun Garcia, 16, was found dead in the bathroom by his roommate in April at AMIkids Multi-Service Home in Albuquerque – a 12-bed, makeshift facility housing boys aged 12 to 17, who are in foster care under the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), according to the home’s website.
Just two days later, the New Mexico Department of Justice launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the teen’s preventable death – drawing on CCTV footage, staff and resident interviews and a review of the facility’s procedures.
The probe ultimately revealed that two staff members failed to check on Garcia during his extended time in the bathroom – despite being urged to do so by another teenage resident, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
When Garcia was finally discovered, a teenage resident confronted staff, saying, ‘I told you to check,’ according to a video shared with CYFD that was later removed, the outlet reported.
While the CYDF noted that there are broader issues within the AMIKids facility, they said the incident ‘is primarily the result of a failure to act by the two staff members who were on duty at that time.’
‘He was brilliant, full of life, wanted to do all kinds of s***,’ a former staff member, who was close with Garcia, told the outlet.
‘He liked to skate and he liked to have fun, he just liked to talk, and he was a brilliant little boy,’ she added.
On April 10, Garcia entered the group home’s bathroom around 7:40 a.m. and did not respond to knocks from another teen resident, who later said he sensed something was wrong.
Despite the unidentified teen’s repeated pleas for staff to check on Garcia, no action was taken.
He was eventually found dead by the other youth at 8.36am – nearly an hour after entering the bathroom, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The investigation found that the two on-duty staff members – both unidentified – spent portions of their shift on their phones, at times for up to 15 uninterrupted minutes.
When alerted to the discovery, the two workers failed to enter the bathroom, check for signs of life, or administer any life-saving aid – neglecting even the most basic level of care expected of them, according to the CYFD.
It was the same teenage boy who discovered Garcia’s body who ultimately returned to the bathroom to check for vital signs – all while the two employees stood by.
Staff interviews revealed warning signs of Garcia’s declining mental health, with one former employee telling investigators it was clear throughout the home that he was struggling, according to the outlet.
According to the report, Garcia had been in conflict with a girlfriend and a family member.
He was offered virtual mental health services through an online therapist but declined, citing his preference to speak with someone in person as he didn’t open up easily.
In the days leading up to his suicide, Garcia began to withdraw from the staff member he had felt closest to – tragically, the final sign of his deepening distress.
The group home also lacked a proper emergency response plan for suicide situations, the investigation found.
The CYFD couldn’t confirm whether the home had any materials or training related to suicide prevention – such as policies, staff drills or guides. It was unclear if those resources even existed.
One critical failure noted was that most staff were unaware of the purpose or location of the ‘knife for life’ – a tool commonly included in suicide response kits to quickly cut through ligatures, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Staff were also found to have kept inaccurate logs of their checks on youth residents, which are supposed to include regular physical observations – known as ‘skin checks’ – to verify their wellbeing while they sleep.
According to the logs kept by staff in the hours leading up to Garcia’s death, they recorded doing these checks frequently – specifically two to three times every hour.
But surveillance footage revealed that staff only conducted two checks over a period exceeding three hours.
The investigation report also highlighted a longstanding and ongoing issue with the supervision of staff and residents at the home.
CYFD had already implemented a corrective action plan in October following a prior investigation, aimed at addressing the supervision issues – ending the placement of foster youth in group settings and ensuring they receive adequate mental health care, according to Searchlight New Mexico.
The action plan came in response to a 2020 class-action lawsuit alleging that the state’s child welfare system was ‘locking New Mexico’s foster children into a vicious cycle of declining physical, mental, and behavioral health.’
Following the recent investigation, CYFD placed the group home on a corrective action plan in May to address identified problems, with the state monitoring progress weekly, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The plan required AMIKids to retrain all staff, enhance supervision to improve safety and increase oversight of their workers.
The group home was also required to permit unannounced visits and inspections by CYFD, which will include reviewing videos and records without prior notice.
As of now, the AMIKids have since met the requirements for updated safety.
‘We have fully responded to all corrective actions issued, including those with which we respectfully disagreed,’ spokesperson Roxane Wergin wrote in an email, according to Santa Fe New Mexican.
‘This decision reflects our commitment to maintaining licensing compliance, demonstrating good faith cooperation, prioritizing transparency and accountability, and preserving trust in our partnership,’ she added.
‘We remain committed to continuous improvement.’
While it’s unclear if the two staff members mentioned in the investigation were formally fired, Wergin confirmed that they are no longer employed at the home.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988.