Linda Whitacre, 68, and Meghan Braley, 30, appeared in Berkshire County Superior Court on Monday afternoon for their arraignments, facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the drowning of a 12-year-old child, Giver Essien, in Great Barrington last summer.
The Charges
• Involuntary manslaughter
• Permitting serious bodily injury of a child
• Reckless endangerment of a child
The two women, who worked as a program coordinator and a site supervisor respectively, for the Pittsfield Public School summer program, were indicted on three counts for their alleged role in the tragic incident.
The Incident
On July 17, 2024, Giver Essien died while on a field trip at the Beartown State Forest. The field trip, which was supervised by Whitacre and Braley, included a visit to the waters of Benedict Pond. Despite warnings from students that Giver could not swim, she was allowed to enter the water. A photograph taken at 12:48 p.m. showed Giver in the water, and it was alleged that the warnings were “laughed off” by Braley. When students were loaded on the bus between 1:30 p.m. and 1:42 p.m., staff realized Giver was missing. By 1:58 p.m., she was pulled out of the water, and unfortunately, it was too late.
The Investigation
An investigation into the incident revealed that at least three children alerted a supervisor that Giver was unable to swim and that she’d gone underwater. The investigation also found that the child was not provided with a life jacket or flotation device, despite the fact that she could not swim. The district attorney’s office stated that the child’s parents signed a permission slip for the field trip, but it did not mention any swimming planned. It also did not include any type of safety plan.
The Response
The district attorney, Timothy Shugrue, addressed water safety with other city officials shortly before Giver’s death. He stated that drowning is the leading cause of death for children and that laws exist to require certified instructors, swim tests, personal flotation devices, group assignments based on swimming ability, and systems to identify non-swimmers. The district attorney also noted that the permit pulled for the field trip stated that there would be 25 students, but more than 35 attended, and that there needed to be at least two lifeguards given the size of the group.
The Consequences
Both women’s next hearings were scheduled for December 8. The two women will face the charges of involuntary manslaughter, permitting serious bodily injury of a child, and reckless endangerment of a child.
The Background
Linda Whitacre, 68, and Meghan Braley, 30, are facing charges in connection with the drowning of a 12-year-old child, Giver Essien, in Great Barrington last summer. Whitacre worked as a program coordinator for the Pittsfield Public School summer program, while Braley worked as a site supervisor for Herberg Middle School’s 21st Century summer program. The Pittsfield Public School website listed Whitacre as an interim 21st Century Grant coordinator on Monday. Braley also agreed to keep the court informed of any changes to her address or contact information as part of her conditions of release. The investigation into the incident revealed that the child’s parents signed a permission slip for the field trip, but it did not mention any swimming planned. It also did not include any type of safety plan. The district attorney’s office stated that the permit pulled for the field trip stated that there would be 25 students, but more than 35 attended, and that there needed to be at least two lifeguards given the size of the group. In a statement, Joshua Hochberg, an attorney for Braley, said that she lives in West Virginia and agreed to keep the court informed of any changes to her address or contact information as part of her conditions of release. Joshua Hochberg, an attorney for Braley, said that Braley worked as a site supervisor at the time of the incident and that she would keep the court informed of any changes to her address or contact information as part of her conditions of release.
Quotes and Statistics
“Alarmingly, children who could not swim were allowed into the water, and life jackets or flotation devices were not available to staff nor the children,” said Timothy Shugrue, the district attorney. “Less than one month later, this tragedy occurred. It could have been prevented. Giver should still be alive,” said Timothy Shugrue, the district attorney. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children, according to the district attorney. The district attorney’s office stated that laws exist to require certified instructors, swim tests, personal flotation devices, group assignments based on swimming ability, and systems to identify non-swimmers. The district attorney also noted that the permit pulled for the field trip stated that there would be 25 students, but more than 35 attended, and that there needed to be at least two lifeguards given the size of the group.
Table: Charges Against the Two Women
| Charges | Description |
|---|---|
| Involuntary manslaughter | Unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought |
| Permitting serious bodily injury of a child | Allowing a child to engage in an activity that could result in serious bodily injury |
| Reckless endangerment of a child | Endangering a child’s life or safety without proper care or caution |
Conclusion
The two women, Linda Whitacre and Meghan Braley, are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, permitting serious bodily injury of a child, and reckless endangerment of a child in connection with the drowning of a 12-year-old child, Giver Essien, in Great Barrington last summer. The incident highlights the importance of proper supervision and safety measures in children’s activities, and serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of negligence. Both women’s next hearings are scheduled for December 8.
