A teenage resident of the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility in Massillon is now paralyzed from the neck down after a Jan. 12 incident inside the youth prison, his family says. The teen remains hospitalized after multiple surgeries and cannot feel his arms, hands or feet, according to relatives. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading a criminal investigation into what happened.
According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the teen, identified by his family as Terrance Mosby, had arrived at Indian River on Jan. 4 after police said he was found in possession of stolen guns. Family members told the paper Mosby has undergone three surgeries, including two on his neck and one to place a feeding tube, and that he was discharged from state custody on Jan. 26. The Enquirer also reports that Gov. Mike DeWine was briefed on the case and that investigators from the Ohio State Highway Patrol are leading the probe. The family says Mosby was moved to MetroHealth's Old Brooklyn medical center for acute rehabilitation on Feb. 4.
Family Demands Answers
"They failed him," Mosby's mother said, blaming staff and the Department of Youth Services for what she called a slow response, relatives told The Cincinnati Enquirer. Mosby's parents, Tenayuh Mosby and Robert Bragg, have hired attorney Charles Boyk to explore possible legal action and have launched a fundraiser to help cover mounting medical and rehabilitation costs.
A Troubled Facility
Indian River is one of the state's secure juvenile facilities and has repeatedly drawn scrutiny for staffing shortages and frequent youth-on-staff assaults, issues that union leaders and lawmakers have highlighted in recent years. Reporting by News 5 Cleveland details dozens of recent incidents and staff complaints that critics say create dangerous conditions for both employees and the young people held there.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation, and officials say the findings will be released once the probe is complete. For now, Mosby's family says their focus is on his recovery while their attorney reviews medical records and the facility's response. Any civil claims, they note, would move forward separately from the criminal inquiry.
Legal Implications
With counsel in place, the family could pursue civil claims alleging negligence or a failure to protect someone in state custody, while prosecutors will independently determine whether criminal charges are warranted if investigators uncover evidence of wrongdoing. State and local officials have said they will cooperate with investigators as the Ohio State Highway Patrol completes its review.
