Child psychology expert on tragic fall - KMSP-TV

Police say the death of a 9-year-old boy may not have been an accident after he fell to nine stories to his death. So how can something like this happen to someone so young?

Investigators tell FOX 2 that Jarod Barnett either jumped or fell from the ninth floor window of his family's apartment at the Young Manor in the 2500 block of West Grand Blvd. around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the boy had threatened to hurt himself in the past.

Witnesses say Barnett lay motionless on the ground as police loaded him into a cruiser and rushed him to Henry Ford Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police are trying to determine what led to the incident, but sources tell FOX 2 the boy had gotten into trouble for stealing something from a nearby store. Sources say Jarod may have been scared of the consequences of his actions and afraid of being punished.

Click on the video player to watch an interview with child psychologist Dr. Carol Van Dyke.


Below are several links to mental health resources:

http://www.waynecounty.com/hhs_mh.htm
 
http://www.occmha.org/
 
http://www.mccmh.net/
 
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/community_mental_health/mh_csts_wcho.html