A mother has taken legal action following the tragic death of her autistic son who fatally injured himself by banging his head against the ground in what she described as a “makeshift classroom prison.”
The incident occurred when 11-year-old Joshua Sikes passed away in his sleep due to brain death resulting from head trauma sustained while in the classroom. Joshua, who was reportedly confined in a structure made of bookcases, bookshelves, and heavy-duty straps, expressed his longing for his mother during the ordeal.
The lawsuit, directed at special education provider Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs (SECEP), alleges that while restrained, Joshua began kicking and hitting his head on the floor, with SECEP staff allegedly neglecting to intervene. The mother, Julie Xirau, was only informed to collect Joshua from school due to his misbehavior, unaware of the severity of his injuries.
Despite the tragedy unfolding, there was a delay in notifying Julie about the incident. Subsequently, Joshua’s condition deteriorated, leading to Julie seeking emergency medical care. Sadly, Joshua succumbed to his injuries before he could receive specialized treatment, passing away in his sleep.
Julie is now seeking $150 million in damages from SECEP and four staff members, accusing the school of failing to seek medical help and disclose the restraint and injuries. Investigations by local authorities did not find evidence to support allegations against the staff, attributing the neglect to an unknown abuser.
A heartfelt obituary published on the Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory website honored Joshua’s joyful and creative spirit, highlighting his love for play and simple pleasures. The Mirror has reached out to SECEP for their response to the incident.
