A 14-year-old Durango boy who was found dead Tuesday at his home south of Durango has been identified as Cody Ledford, a student at Escalante Middle School.
Cody’s death is being investigated as a suicide, the third in 10 days and the ninth this year in La Plata County, said Coroner Jann Smith.
“I don’t know what to do, they’re all young,” Smith said of the suicides. “I don’t know where the education needs to be.”
Cody was found about 8:50 a.m. by his parents in the 8000 block of U.S. Highway 550, about seven miles south of Durango, according to a news release from the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
Durango School District 9-R sent a letter Tuesday to Escalante Middle School families expressing sympathy for the boy’s family and offered death and grief resources to those impacted.
To get help
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself or herself is available from these sources:
Axis Health System: 24-hour crisis hotline at (970) 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255).
RED Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: (888) 628-9454.
National Crisis text Hotline: 741741
Boys Town Hotline: (800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell Colorado: (877) 542-7233 or online at
.
Colorado Crisis Services Support Line: (844) 493-8255. The line has mental health professionals available to talk to, live chat or text adults or youths in English and Spanish about any crisis.
Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.
Second Wind Fund: (720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental health professional.
