A 15-year-old Ignacio High School boy was found dead Wednesday morning at his home, authorities reported.
Emergency personnel responded around 6 a.m. to a home on County Road 526, just east of Bayfield, where a family member reported finding a grandson unresponsive and not breathing in his bedroom.
Attempts to revive the boy were unsuccessful; he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release sent about 10:30 a.m.
The La Plata County Coroner’s Office will conduct an examination and determine a cause of death. La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said Wednesday morning the boy’s body will be sent to Montrose for an autopsy.
Foul play is not suspected, and there are no obvious signs of trauma, she said.
Contacted late Wednesday, Smith did not have additional information about the incident.
The Sheriff’s Office said the boy was a student with Ignacio School District. Calls to the district were not returned Wednesday.
On its website, Ignacio School District posted:
“The District would like to express our condolences to the family and close friends of our High School student who passed away last evening. We will continue to have counseling services available for students, staff, family, and others emotionally touched by this tragedy tomorrow as well as Friday. Please feel free to contact the High School office if you need assistance 1-970-563-0515.”
Calls to the San Juan Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) also were not returned.
Julie Popp, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R, said the school district has reached out to Ignacio School District to offer community support services.
“As a neighboring school district, this impacts us too,” Popp said. “We’re one community.”
The Sheriff’s Office said it is not releasing any additional information and is “allowing the boy’s family and Ignacio School District to make appropriate notifications.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
This story has been updated to reflect that Ignacio School District is making appropriate notifications. Earlier information in a news release contained incorrect information.
