Tuscumbia City Schools has confirmed its internal investigation will proceed following the conclusion of a criminal case involving an injury to a freshman football player. The Madison County District Attorney's Office recently closed its investigation into the incident that seriously injured 15-year-old August Borden, classifying it as a "freak accident" and declining to press charges.
Key Takeaways
- The Madison County DA's Office has closed the criminal investigation into August Borden's injuries, filing no charges.
- The incident, which left Borden with multiple skull fractures, was officially deemed a "freak accident."
- Tuscumbia City Schools is moving forward with its own internal investigation, led by outside legal counsel.
- The school district's internal review will examine board policies and procedures related to the incident.
- Findings and recommendations from the internal probe are expected to be presented to the school board in the coming weeks.
Criminal Investigation Concludes Without Charges
The criminal aspect of the case surrounding an incident at Deshler High School has officially ended. On Wednesday, the Madison County District Attorney's office announced its decision during a news conference, bringing the law enforcement phase of the matter to a close.
Investigators concluded that the event which resulted in 15-year-old August Borden sustaining multiple skull fractures was not the result of criminal action. The DA's office publicly labeled the incident a "freak accident."
This determination was made after a thorough review by multiple agencies. The Tuscumbia Police Department initially handled the case before transferring it to the Franklin County Juvenile Probation office and the Madison County DA's office for a final decision.
Case Background
The investigation began in August after August Borden, a freshman football player at Deshler High School, was found with serious head injuries. The nature of the incident prompted an immediate response from law enforcement and school officials, leading to the multi-agency criminal investigation that has now concluded.
School District's Internal Review Moves Forward
Despite the closure of the criminal case, Tuscumbia City Schools is continuing its own examination of the events. The district released a formal statement on Friday confirming its commitment to completing an internal investigation.
In the statement, the district acknowledged the DA's decision and expressed gratitude for the work of law enforcement partners. The focus now shifts to an administrative review aimed at understanding the circumstances and improving internal protocols.
"While the criminal portion of the investigation into this matter has concluded, the District’s internal investigation will continue. As explained during our September Board meeting, we are working with our recently hired outside legal counsel to complete an internal investigation into this matter."
Role of Outside Legal Counsel
To ensure impartiality and thoroughness, Tuscumbia City Schools has retained outside legal counsel to lead its internal probe. The district had previously explained this decision at a September Board of Education meeting.
The attorney was waiting for the criminal investigation to finish before proceeding fully. According to the district's statement, this was done to avoid any potential interference with the law enforcement process.
With the criminal case now closed, the district's attorney has a clear path to continue the investigation. This includes interviewing relevant parties and reviewing all available information related to the incident.
Investigation Timeline
The school district anticipates that its internal investigation will be completed within the next few weeks. This timeline suggests a focused effort to bring the matter to a resolution at the administrative level.
Focus on Policy and Procedure Review
A primary goal of the internal investigation is to scrutinize the district's existing policies and procedures. The findings will help determine if any changes are necessary to enhance student safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The district's outside counsel will be responsible for this comprehensive review. After the investigation is complete, the attorney will present a summary of findings to the Board of Education.
This summary will also include potential recommendations for updates or amendments to current board policies. The board will then be responsible for considering and implementing any suggested changes.
Commitment to the School Community
In its public statement, Tuscumbia City Schools acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for the entire school community. Officials emphasized their dedication to seeing the process through to a final conclusion.
- The district has pledged to continue supporting all of its schools and students throughout this period.
- Officials thanked the community for its ongoing support as both the criminal and internal investigations have unfolded.
- The ultimate aim is to learn from the incident and strengthen protocols to protect all students.
The school board and administration are now awaiting the final report from their legal counsel, which will guide their next steps in addressing the matter internally and ensuring accountability within the district's framework.
