Parents sue Utah’s Discovery Ranch over teen’s death

Author: Jessica Schreifels

Summary:
The parents of 17-year-old Biruk Silvers have filed a lawsuit against Discovery Ranch Academy in Utah, alleging that negligence by staff led to their son’s death in November 2024. Biruk had shared suicidal thoughts with his psychiatrist and disclosed to a therapist that he had engaged in a dangerous behavior involving oxygen deprivation. Despite these warnings, staff allowed him to be alone and failed to restrict access to potentially harmful items, including a belt.

A state investigation found that Discovery Ranch violated its own suicide prevention policies, failed to create a care plan, and did not provide adequate supervision. The facility was fined but remains licensed.

The lawsuit also names the University of Utah, which employs Biruk’s psychiatrist, and Pilcrow Advisors, the educational consulting company that recommended the program. The family says they raised concerns about Biruk’s well-being in the days before his death but were told not to withdraw him from the program.