Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Print
Apr 9, 2008 10:23 pm US/Central
More Clues Uncovered In Death Of DISD Student
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
New details are emerging about a Dallas Independent School District high school student and musician found dead on an Austin interstate.
Nearly two weeks have passed and James and Leslie Kings are still uncovering information about their son's death. "There are still a lot of unanswered questions," said Leslie Kings.
James Kings, of Allen was found dead on Interstate 35 in downtown Austin. The 17-year-old was traveling and performing with fellow student musicians from Booker T. Washington High School. Today the family's attorney filed a petition to depose six chaperones and two students who were on that field trip.
"It's certainly important for us to know what happened in that room," said James Kings. "But even more important, why it was allowed to happen?"
Eric Lopez is the family's attorney. "The instructional staff and chaperones are responsible for student safety and conduct while on the trip," said Lopez. "That obviously did not happen on this trip."
James' father said he personally spoke to two of the chaperones and one of the students. Kings said there were ten male students in a hotel room allegedly smoking marijuana. It was 2:00 a.m. when Kings said his son burst out of the room and was stopped by a chaperone.
"She did observe him struggling to get out of the room. It was clear to her that he was in fear," said Kings.
The chaperon who stopped James is Pat Thompson. While Thompson declined to speak on camera, she confirmed the story off camera. Thompson told us that when James ran out of the hotel room, he was afraid and wasn't himself. She said he then told her that he had been raped. Then he ran off.
"The accountability system is so lax that they can feel comfortable about having a party, whether it's a pot party, a booze party or a sex party," said Kings.
The couple says DISD is ultimately responsible. They want the district to implement stricter guidelines for field trips and chaperones.
"We're looking for answers and we want closure," said Leslie Kings.
CBS11 called DISD for a comment, but the district did not return our phone call.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Social Networking Sites In The News
