Late Wednesday evening, the peaceful halls of Meadowridge Academy in Swansea turned tragic when 53-year-old staff member Amy Morrell collapsed and later died after being struck in the chest by a 14-year-old student during an attempt to leave a dormitory. The academy, a residential therapeutic school serving youth with behavioral and mental health needs, is now in mourning as the investigation continues.
The confrontation occurred just before 7 p.m., when the student tried to exit a dorm building without permission. According to officials, Morrell and other staff members moved to restrain her. During that interaction, the teenage girl allegedly kicked Morrell in the chest, causing the staffer to fall immediately. Fellow employees began CPR on the spot and called 911, but Morrell succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter.
Morrell, a Rhode Island native living in Riverside, was taken to a local hospital by emergency responders and was officially pronounced dead Thursday afternoon. Authorities have yet to publicly disclose the medical cause of death. The 14-year-old, whose name has been withheld due to juvenile privacy laws, has been charged in juvenile court with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury.
The Meadowsridge Academy, part of a broader network of treatment programs, described the loss as devastating. In a statement, the school expressed its “deep sorrow” and extended heartfelt condolences to Morrell’s family. They also pledged to provide grief counseling and support services to both students and staff in the wake of the tragedy.
Those who knew Morrell remember her as kind, patient, and wholly dedicated to her work. A close family member, Andrew Ferruche, said the news still felt unreal. “I still expect to get a text from her,” he shared, struggling with the suddenness of her loss. Friends recalled her warm spirit, her lighthearted humor, and the genuine care she showed students whom many viewed as “difficult” or “vulnerable.”
The incident has also raised hard questions about safety protocols and staff protection in such settings. Some family and friends are pressing the school and oversight authorities to review procedures, especially in environments where tensions and behavioral issues already run high. “How many staffers have been hit in the last two weeks?” one relative asked.
For now, Meadowridge Academy and the Swansea community grapple with grief and disbelief. In corridors once filled with purpose and promise, silence and sorrow now echo. As the legal process unfolds and more details emerge, many hope this tragedy will bring necessary reflection—and change—to protect those who devote their lives to helping others.
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