Philadelphia's Department of Human Services has been sending some of the most troubled kids in its care to Chad since at least 2001. In 2005, after a drumbeat of warnings about harsh treatment and the death of a 14-year-old girl, DHS and city courts continued to use Chad even as Tennessee and New York state pulled their youngsters from the facility.
While Leach's death prompted Philadelphia officials to start removing youngsters from Chad, eight city youths were still housed there, a city official said last night.
Before the death, Philadelphia kids made up the largest group at the facility, constituting about half the 90 youths there. Since Leach died, the city has promised to reexamine its heavy reliance on distant, out-of-state facilities.
Acting Commissioner Arthur Evans Jr. said yesterday that DHS was "deeply troubled by the homicide ruling."
As the count of Philadelphians at Chad has dwindled, Evans said, his staff has made regular visits there to make sure it was safe.
Chad is one of 110 behavioral-health facilities in 33 states owned by King of Prussia-based Universal Health Services.
Spokesman Nick Ragone said the for-profit chain had no comment on the autopsy, which was completed last month. Previously, UHS said children's safety is its first priority.
In his autopsy, Levy said he had found "multiple superficial blunt force injuries" to Leach's body in addition to the injuries to the neck muscles. Those included scrapes and bruises to both shoulders and a hip as well as a bruise beneath Leach's left eye.
Levy also noted that a contributing factor in Leach's death was his enlarged heart.
Leach - a slender 5-foot8 and 148 pounds, the autopsy found - was pronounced dead June 3, a day after his clash with Chad staff.
