Giver Eissen dies in fatal Berkshire County drowning incident
Fatal Berkshire County drowning. death of Giver Eissen
A district attorney’s investigation has formally charged two Pittsfield educators following the summer field trip incident where a 12-year-old girl drowned in Berkshire County. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue announced charges against Megan Braley and Linda Whitacre, linking them to the death of Herberg Middle School student Giver Eissen.
The fatal incident occurred during a field trip to Beartown State Forest on July 17th. Prosecutors allege significant deviations from the approved safety plan contributed to the tragedy. Originally planned as two separate swimming groups of approximately 15 students each, all 35 participating students ended up in Benedict Pond simultaneously. This overcrowding violated safety protocols established for water activities.
Prior to the trip, Eissen’s inability to swim was reportedly communicated to staff members, yet she was permitted unsupervised access to the water. The investigation revealed a breakdown in crucial safety mechanisms. According to the DA’s office, there was no system in place for continuous child tracking while swimming, no enforced buddy system, and no readily available flotation devices.
Multiple students reportedly warned Braley about Eissen’s swimming limitations and disappearance, but these alerts were allegedly disregarded. The search for the missing child wasn’t initiated until after all students had boarded the bus.
Shugrue emphasized that the charges do not imply malicious intent, but rather a failure of profound responsibility. “Parents entrust summer programs with their children under the belief that these experiences will be safe and enriching. That trust carries immense responsibility,” he stated. “In this case, a series of preventable and reckless oversights directly contributed to the unintentional death of a child.”
Braley, 29, and Whitacre, 68, both from Pittsfield, have been charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, permitting serious bodily injury of a child, and reckless endangerment of a child. Arraignment for Braley is scheduled for early August, while Whitacre’s proceedings are pending scheduling.
The investigation, which took over a year to complete, involved interviews with students, chaperones, and school staff, along with a comprehensive review of state regulations for summer programs and water safety requirements. The permission slips for the trip lacked specific safety protocols for swimming activities, and discrepancies were found between the permit submitted for the park and the actual number of participants. Additional failures included inadequate supervision, lack of proper sign-in/out procedures for water activities, and insufficient safety training for staff.
