More details are coming out following the death of a 17-year-old boy in state care earlier this week.

 

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Department for Children and Families are both investigating the teenager's death. The boy was being held at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City when he was found dead in his room on Tuesday morning. Authorities at the facility say the boy was a runaway and had been placed in state care for allegedly violating court orders. The boy reportedly had no physical or mental health issues and was not considered high-risk. Staff at the facility say the boy declined physical therapy before going to bed on Monday night. The next morning, he was dead. An autopsy was performed on Thursday, but the results have not yet been released.

 

Several state lawmakers are asking questions about the juvenile's death, such as, why was he at a facility in Junction City when there are others closer to his home in Dodge City. State legislators say there will likely be hearings on the Kansas juvenile justice system when lawmakers convene for the 2025 session in January.