Phil Williams Jr. was a student at school for troubled teens in Poland when he died in 1982

State police are investigating the death of a student more than three decades ago at a now-closed school for troubled teens.The cause of death for Phil Williams Jr. was listed as “probably a ruptured aneurysm” on his death certificate in 1982. He was 15 years old and living at Poland's Elan School for troubled teens.Pam Newall, his sister, said for 33 years she never thought to question his death.“I didn’t know that these stories were out there, but they’ve been out there for years,” Newall said.Newall was contacted by a former student working on a documentary who had names and phone numbers of witnesses. They told her Williams was accused by staff of faking headaches.They said in the hours before her brother’s death, he had been punished in what they described as a boxing ring.“Not a boxing ring, like a boxing ring. A ring of children where he proceeded to get beat,” Newall said. “Twenty minutes or so they called the ambulance. They took Phil and they never saw him again.”The Elan School closed in 2011 after being criticized for its controversial therapies – one of which was forced fighting.“I want people to take responsibility for what they did. I don’t care that they didn’t throw the punches. They were adults. Adults are supposed to take care of children,” Newall said.She said she hopes state police can uncover what really went on that day.“I thought it was a wonderful place. I thought they were helping my brother. I thought he was coming home. He came home all right … in a box,” Newall said.

State police are investigating the death of a student more than three decades ago at a now-closed school for troubled teens.

The cause of death for Phil Williams Jr. was listed as “probably a ruptured aneurysm” on his death certificate in 1982. He was 15 years old and living at Poland's Elan School for troubled teens.


Pam Newall, his sister, said for 33 years she never thought to question his death.

“I didn’t know that these stories were out there, but they’ve been out there for years,” Newall said.

Newall was contacted by a former student working on a documentary who had names and phone numbers of witnesses. They told her Williams was accused by staff of faking headaches.

They said in the hours before her brother’s death, he had been punished in what they described as a boxing ring.

“Not a boxing ring, like a boxing ring. A ring of children where he proceeded to get beat,” Newall said. “Twenty minutes or so they called the ambulance. They took Phil and they never saw him again.”

The Elan School closed in 2011 after being criticized for its controversial therapies – one of which was forced fighting.

“I want people to take responsibility for what they did. I don’t care that they didn’t throw the punches. They were adults. Adults are supposed to take care of children,” Newall said.

She said she hopes state police can uncover what really went on that day.

“I thought it was a wonderful place. I thought they were helping my brother. I thought he was coming home. He came home all right … in a box,” Newall said.