09/22/2025
Saint Cloud Family Demands Answers After 7-Year-Old Autistic Child Dies Following Mysterious Incident at School
Saint Cloud, Minnesota — A grieving community in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, is demanding answers after 7-year-old boy described as a happy, healthy, nonverbal Black child with autism was placed on life support following an unexplained incident at school. The child later died.
The incident occurred at Westwood Elementary School, where the child attended. According to the family, the boy was dropped off at school the morning of the incident in good health. During early afternoon, they were visited by police at home, then they were told their son is unresponsive and on life support.
Days later, he passed away
What happened to the 7 years old boy remains a mystery. And to date, the school district has not released any detailed statement about the incident, not to the public, and not to the family. “Our son left home smiling. Now we’re planning his funeral. We just want to know what happened,” said the boy’s uncle in a statement shared with community members in a solidarity event held on Sunday afternoon.
The lack of transparency has fueled outrage and heartbreak in the Saint Cloud community and beyond. Advocates for disability rights and racial justice have begun calling for a full investigation, raising concerns about the safety and treatment of vulnerable children in public school, especially children of color with disabilities.
Silence from the District
As of today, the St. Cloud Area School District (ISD 742) has not provided a timeline of events, nor confirmed the circumstances leading to the medical emergency, but many parents and community members say the silence is unacceptable.
Unanswered Questions
Among the most pressing questions:
- What occurred between the time the child was dropped off and when emergency services were called?
- Were staff trained to meet the needs of nonverbal and autistic students?
- Was there surveillance footage?
- Was this reported to law enforcement or state child protection agencies?
- Currently, there is no public indication of an open criminal investigation.
A Call for Action and Answers:
“How does a 7-year-old autistic child end up dead after just two hours at school and no one is talking about it?”
The case touches on multiple systemic issues: disability rights, racial equity, transparency in public education, and the accountability of institutions tasked with protecting children.
As the community mourns, advocates warn that silence is not only harmful, it’s dangerous.
“If this can happen in silence, it can happen again,” said a mother and community activist. “We need answers. We need accountability. And we need it now.”
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available. If you have tips or information related to this incident, please contact
