Facility profile Michigan

Lakeside Academy

Closed Kalamazoo, Michigan

Lakeside Academy was a program in Kalamazoo, Michigan, operated by Sequel TSI. It operated from 1907 to 2020.

About Lakeside Academy

Lakeside for Children entered an agreement with Sequel Youth and Family Services in July 2007 and the facility was renamed Lakeside Academy; Michigan ended its contracts on June 18, 2020 after the death of Cornelius Frederick, and the academy closed.source A news report says it closed.source

Announced closing (2020-06-20) per news report: WKZO, "Gov. Whitmer issues statement on Lakeside Academy death | WKZO | Everything Kalamazoo | 590 AM · 106.9 FM", 2020-06-20 source.source

Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo was founded in 1907 and was run by Sequel Youth and Family Services from 2007; Michigan ended its contracts and moved to revoke its licence in June 2020 after the April 2020 restraint death of Cornelius Frederick, and it closed in 2020.source 1, source 2, source 3

Deaths on record

The memorial

Lawsuits

  • Tenia Goshay, Personal Representative of the Estate of Cornelius Frederick v. Lakeside for Children d/b/a Lakeside Academy, et al. 2021 | Settled | United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division | 1:21-cv-00848-RJJ-RSK Names this facility

    Outcome: Settled Dec 2021; terms confidential.

    Tenia Goshay, as personal representative of the estate of Cornelius Frederick, sued Lakeside Academy, several Sequel Youth and Family Services companies and ten staff members in federal court in Michigan on September 30, 2021. The complaint alleges that on April 29, 2020, staff at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo restrained the 16-year-old state ward on the floor for throwing a sandwich and suffocated him while he said he could not breathe, then gave no aid, and that he died at Bronson Methodist Hospital on May 1, 2020. It alleges he had been restrained many times before, that Sequel was warned by Oregon Senator Sara Gelser about its restraint practices, and that the state had cited the facility for restraint and staffing violations since 2016. It states the state revoked Lakeside Academy's license after his death. The document shows only the filing of the complaint.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Incidents on record

  1. May 2020 Death

    In May 2020 a 16-year-old was killed at Lakeside Academy, a Sequel program in Michigan, following an 11-minute restraint for throwing a sandwich.source

News coverage

  • News Channel 3 Dec 19, 2023 Event

    same company responsible for the death of a client

    Two former staff members at Lakeside Academy were sentenced to 18 months of probation for involuntary manslaughter in the death of 16‑year‑old Cornelius Fredericks, who died after a 12‑minute restraint. The Kalamazoo County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by restraint asphyxia. The case highlights concerns about safety practices at the private youth facility.

  • News Channel 3 Dec 19, 2023 Event

    Former Lakeside Academy workers sentenced to probation for teen's restraint death

    Two former staff members at Lakeside Academy were sentenced to probation after pleading no contest to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 16‑year‑old Cornelius Fredericks. The teen died after a 12‑minute restraint following an incident in the cafeteria. The case highlights concerns about restraint practices and oversight at the facility.

  • NBC News Jul 12, 2023 Event

    Warning signs missed before teen's fatal restraint

    The article reports that a teen named Cornelius Frederick died after being restrained in a facility. The report indicates that warning signs were missed and that the restraint may have contributed to the fatal outcome. The case highlights concerns about safety protocols in residential treatment settings.

  • WoodTV May 10, 2023 Event

    MDHHS speaks on changes following Lakeside Academy death

    The Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services announced policy changes after the death of a teenager at Lakeside Academy. The changes aim to improve oversight and safety protocols for residential treatment facilities. The article reports on the state's response and planned reforms.

  • The Imprint May 3, 2023 Lawsuit

    Lakeside Staffers Plead No Contest to Charges from Cornelius Fredericks’ Death

    Cornelius Fredericks, a 16‑year‑old foster youth, died after being restrained by staff at Lakeside Academy in Michigan. Two former staff members pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, while a nurse was charged with child abuse for failing to provide care. The case highlights concerns about safety practices in for‑profit group care facilities.

  • WWMT Mar 16, 2023 Arrest

    Former workers enter plea in Lakeside Academy teen's death

    Two former staff members at Lakeside Academy pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 16‑year‑old Cornelius Fredericks, who died after a prolonged restraint by the staff. The plea follows a criminal investigation that found the restraint violated ordinary care and resulted in the teen’s death. The case is scheduled for sentencing in December.

  • APM Reports Apr 26, 2022 Expose

    fake shell of a company that John Ripley (Founder) used to buy out Sequel

    Sequel Youth & Family Services, a former chain of residential treatment centers, has closed or sold most of its facilities following repeated allegations of staff misconduct, sexual misconduct, and safety violations. The company’s operations were scrutinized after a 2020 incident in which a 16‑year‑old boy died after being restrained by staff. In response, Sequel has transferred many centers to new ownership under Vivant Behavioral Healthcare and other entities while settling lawsuits with affected families.

  • The Imprint Jan 4, 2022 Lawsuit

    Family Reaches Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Michigan Youth Facility

    The family of 16‑year‑old Cornelius Frederick reached a settlement with Lakeside Academy after his death in 2020. The death was ruled a homicide following staff smothering, and the settlement was approved by a judge in December 2022. The case has prompted broader scrutiny of residential treatment facilities in Michigan.

  • NBC News Apr 2, 2021 Expose

    Michigan to ban restraints in youth facilities after Cornelius Frederick's death

    A 16‑year‑old foster child, Cornelius Frederick, died after being restrained for more than ten minutes by staff at Lakeside Academy, a residential treatment center in Kalamazoo. The incident prompted Michigan officials to propose new regulations banning restraints in group homes and to increase oversight of facilities operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services. Several former staff members have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse.

  • Michigan Public Sep 24, 2020 Expose

    "It's still not right." An investigation into Lakeside Academy.

    An investigative report details systemic failures at Lakeside Academy, a residential facility for troubled teens, including repeated use of physical restraints, inadequate oversight, and the death of a resident. The investigation highlights the state's failure to prevent harm and the subsequent closure of the facility. Survivors and former staff describe ongoing concerns about the safety and well‑being of youth placed in such settings.

  • CNN Jul 8, 2020 Event

    Cornelius Frederick death: Attorney releases video showing 16-year-old being restrained and given chest compressions later

    In April 2020, 16-year‑old Cornelius Frederick was restrained by staff at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and later received chest compressions while unresponsive. He suffered cardiac arrest and died two days later; three staff members have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse.

  • Newschannel 3 Jul 7, 2020 Lawsuit

    Attorney releases video showing incident preceding Lakeside Academy teen's death

    A video released by the Kalamazoo County prosecutor shows staff restraining 16‑year‑old Cornelius Fredericks for over ten minutes, after which he was left unattended before medical care was provided. The restraint led to his death by restraint asphyxia, and the incident has resulted in criminal charges against several staff members and a wrongful‑death lawsuit filed by his family.

5 more articles

  • Mother Jones Jul 1, 2020 Expose

    Lawsuit and Investigation Detail History of Abuse and Death at Lakeside Academy

    Following the death of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredericks at Lakeside Academy in Michigan after staff used a prolonged physical restraint, a lawsuit was filed detailing a pattern of negligence, improper restraint usage, and safety violations at the facility. The operator, Sequel Youth and Family Services, faced increased scrutiny regarding systemic abuse, lack of oversight, and safety incidents across multiple residential facilities nationwide.

  • Refinery29 Jun 25, 2020 Lawsuit

    Death of 16-Year-Old at Lakeside Academy Leads to Legal Action

    A 16‑year‑old resident of Lakeside Academy died from restraint asphyxia after staff applied physical restraint for an extended period. The incident prompted charges of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse against staff members and a lawsuit by the family seeking damages. The facility has since lost its license and staff have been terminated.

  • The New York Times Jun 24, 2020 Arrest

    Three Charged in Death of Michigan Teenager Restrained at Youth Academy

    A 16-year‑old resident of Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan, died after staff restrained him, resulting in death by restraint asphyxia. Three staff members have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse, and the facility faces licensing revocation and civil litigation.

  • WKZO Jun 20, 2020 Closure

    Gov. Whitmer issues statement on Lakeside Academy death | WKZO | Everything Kalamazoo | 590 AM · 106.9 FM

    A 16‑year‑old youth died after being restrained at Lakeside Academy, a residential treatment facility in Kalamazoo. Governor Whitmer announced the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services would suspend the facility’s license and remove staffing services from Sequel Youth and Family Services. The state plans to permanently close the facility following the death.

  • ClickOnDetroit Lawsuit

    Michigan State Agency Cuts Ties with Youth Facility Following Fatal Restraint Incident

    A 16‑year‑old youth died after being restrained at Lakeside Academy, a state‑licensed facility in Kalamazoo. Three former staff members were charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse, and the state terminated the facility’s license and contract. A lawsuit has been filed against the academy and its staffing partner.

Staff

Notable staff

  • Jared Nabors

    (2013-2019) Academic Supervisor (2019-2021)

    Elsewhere in the industry

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Ownership

  • Sequel Youth and Family Services operated 2007-2020

Documents

Documents on file (8)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)

Research that mentions this program

The whole research library

From the Unsilenced archive

14 documents about Lakeside Academy that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Lakeside Academy.

From SCIAD NET

1 document about Lakeside Academy that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps it on Google Drive, where it opens.

Materials and links

External links

Government records

From SCIAD NET.

Reference and research

3 of these from SCIAD NET.

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction