Family wants second autopsy
Tryon contingent attends servicesBy MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
UTICA - The longtime girlfriend and the daughter of a Tryon Residential Center aide who died last week want another autopsy done because they said they don't believe he died of natural causes.
Longtime Tryon youth division aide Charles Loftly, 60, of Utica died Aug. 26 when his family decided to have doctors take him off life support after he suffered a seizure and lapsed into a coma Aug. 22. Six weeks before he suffered the seizure, Loftly was struck in the head by a Tryon resident.
Oneida County Coroner Gregory Mills said an autopsy done Aug. 27 by Dr. Michael Sikirica, a pathologist, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Utica determined Loftly died of natural causes.
Mills said Sikirica determined his death was unrelated to the July 16 assault on him that state police say was inflicted by 16-year-old Tryon resident Randall Bell. State police said Bell hit Loftly once in the back of the head with a piece of wood taken from a desk.
The teen is incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail on one felony count of second-degree assault, but will not have his charges upgraded based on the autopsy, District Attorney Louise K. Sira said last week.
Thelma Porter of Utica - described in Loftly's obituary as his "fiancee and life companion of 32 years" - said Wednesday she is not satisfied with the results of the autopsy.
"I'm planning on having another autopsy," Porter said.
Porter was contacted at her home one day after Tuesday's memorial celebration in honor of Loftly's life at Hope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Utica. She said she was too emotional to talk about Loftly and referred further questions to Sabrina Brown - her and Loftly's daughter.
Brown said Wednesday the family is discussing having another autopsy done - independent of the official one done the day after her father died.
"That autopsy came back so quickly," Brown said. "It just makes you wonder."
She said her family plans to hire someone to re-examine Loftly's body. The family plans to cremate the body, but it has not been done yet.
"It's an awfully big coincidence," Brown said. "He [Loftly] had his blow to the head. He was out of work and complaining of headaches."
Brown was due to be married to David Engram in Utica, she said, and her father was to take her down the aisle this summer, but he became sick. Now, she said the family has delayed what was to be a happy occasion.
"Its been adjourned until Oct. 25," Brown said of her wedding. "It's just been too difficult."
Brown said Tuesday's celebration of her dad was an amazing show of support from his Tryon family of co-workers.
"The state showed up in hordes," Brown said.
She said her father's co-workers were very supportive.
"That was very helpful to see how well liked he was," Brown said.
Michael Geraghty of Gloversville, president of Local 559 Civil Service Employees Association - the union representing YDAs at Tryon, said Wednesday he and more than 60 employees from Tryon and other youth detention facilities across the state attended Loftly's service.
"It was a tremendous response," Geraghty said. "The church was overflowing. Many people spoke on his behalf and [about] how he not only touched the kids [at Tryon], but people in the [Utica] community."
Susan Steele, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Children & Family Services - the agency that oversees youth detention facilities such as Tryon - said workers from other youth detention facilities filled in at Tryon Tuesday.
"We made a special effort so that there was coverage so [Loftly's] co-workers could attend," Steele said.
She said OCFS Executive Deputy Commissioner William Getman and OCFS Deputy Commissioner for Juvenile Justice Joyce Burrell attended Loftly's service.
"Bill thought it was an important time of healing," Steele said. "We're moving forward positively."
Geraghty said co-workers at Tryon agree with Loftly's family and loved ones that the findings of the autopsy were rushed.
"The overwhelming sentiment was that that was a premature determination," he said. "My point is, I hope they do another autopsy. It is hard for us to believe there is no cause and effect [from the July 16 assault]."
Brown said her father - whose obituary said he dedicated 30 years of his life to helping at-risk youths through his employment at Tryon and Annsville Youth Camp - was a wonderful man.
"He was very witty," Brown said. "His sense of humor made people laugh."
She said her father - an ex-Marine who enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and taking daily rides with his fiancee and son, Tyrone - could make a positive out of a bad situation.
"He loved his family," Brown said.
She said her father was especially close to Tyrone - her autistic stepbrother - and the pair were inseparable.
She said her father worked hard at making Tryon a better place.
"He had a good relationship with his co-workers," Brown said. "It was a difficult job. He got through it with humor ... I just think they have a good group of people who work for the facility."
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ChildMadness
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11-01-08 5:55 PM
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Does anyone know whether this second autopsy was ever done?
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Boathouseblues
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09-20-08 11:17 AM
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Couple of days ago the Gazette said the police came to Tryon and arrested a resident for harrassment. No further details.
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birddie
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09-18-08 7:44 AM
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Gupiepup Thanks for the info, was there anything mentioned to have CSEA and PEF unite members for this cause? Keep us posted
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guphiepup
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09-17-08 7:11 PM
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I just returned from the PEF convention and I am more convinced we need to All ban together and keep the pressure on our governor and legislature. I talked to many of my PEF brothers and sisters and so many don't even realize the situation at hand. At the OCFS meeting we had more home office representation than facility representation. Once again the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and very little is bein accomplished. I was told it shouldn't be about our jobs and more about the kids but our jobs are the kids and who better than those that have worked many long hard years in this field. Please don't give up spreading the word, try getting the info downstate about how this will affect them.
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noheat
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09-14-08 8:05 AM
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have you ever thought about some of the kids at these facilitys are not all done for some of them have been placed for different reasons than violence and end up in the mix and addapt to there surroundings... not all of them are bad children some just get lost in the system
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teebzz
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09-14-08 1:16 AM
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asking others to sacrifice their jobs, ones that have been there a long time and love what they do? thats a big risk ur asking OTHERS to take.
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justice
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09-12-08 7:28 PM
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You guys still have to get more public in the newspapers! And see if tv won't pick this story up more, somebody has to make a stand! I understand that you would loose your jobs, but it looks like that's a good posiblity anyway! maybe if you can find someone who has left ocfs to come forward and tell the truth with what actualy goes on! I still say statewide band together and march on ALBANY that will get their attention what are they going to do fire everyone or lay off everyone!
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ChildMadness
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09-12-08 7:17 PM
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To: carrionmustgo, In response to your question regaring the Governor's Task Force, I am pleased that such a measure is being implemented. However, I am not at all pleased that he chose Gladys to lead it. And I don't hate Gladys, I'm sure she's a wonderful individual, I just disagree with her placing the sanctuary in the middle of the jungle with no protection. As I said in another blog, we need a leader who supports teaching discipline. A leader who knows and supports the value of earning rewards; something given has little value. A leader who is interested in helping everyone live a better life, including those people who were already victimized by these children. If she is going to head a task force, she should at least have done it before. With the condition that OCFS is currently in, we don't need the lead individual feeling her way around, trying to discover what to do. The lead individual should be in possession of specifics; programs that are already working.
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DFYOCFS
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09-12-08 6:58 AM
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"CMG" Typical task force "hand" picked so they get the results they want. Count the number of people from NYC. Count the number of people west of the Hudson. Buffalo the second largest city in New York with ZERO representation Rochester 3 rd bigest City 1 I was googleing some of the picks and i can't figure out why except for his ethnic background would someone from the NYC Bus system be picked. WOW I can already write the results of the report. Check out Lesslie ABBY she want the facilities closed 2 years ago.
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carrionmustgo
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09-12-08 6:34 AM
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I guess that everything is going well at the facilities based on your lack of blogging. NOT. It's great that people are reading but we need new people to step up to the plate and blog. Even if things are getting better, let us know. How does everyone feel about Governor Patterson's announcement of a task force to change juvenile justice's "broken system".
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birddie
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09-11-08 8:55 PM
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Keep the presure on,
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DFYOCFS
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09-11-08 10:53 AM
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It is working this Blog site was the buzz at a meeting yesterday. And I thought I was the only one from this Facility participating in reading. Trainers from HO were also aware.
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birddie
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09-11-08 6:53 AM
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DFYOCFS, yes somewhat in central new york.. Teebzz, your more than welcome to be in the forum, its our fredom of speech. You may think you understand what we are up against by reading our postings, however, this is just a small pert of what we do, you really need to experience it first hand to truely understand what we are talking about. And yes , people do need to vent, especially in our profesion, and somtimes a sence of humor helps as does in all profesions of work
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teebzz
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09-10-08 10:40 PM
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i never said dont be angry. seems like some of u just like to twist or make up stuff. and it wont change. im not upset. "Every one in this forum thinks you're the feds. Why don't you leave the people alone. Don't be jealous of our comraderie..." i guess thats some of the "humor" u guys are talking about.
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ChildMadness
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09-10-08 10:23 PM
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teebzz,, I would have gotten back to you sooner but I got mandated. What I mean is: We like what we do and we would like to keep doing it. This forum has made it possible for us to vent but you have violated us by not respecting the fact that we have a legitimate gripe. You are telling us not to be angry about what is going on. And even in our anger, we provided our own levity and found amusement in our grief. Let us express our emotions. Stop telling us that we don't need to be angry because it is an unreasonable person who would tell another that they shouldn't be feeling a certain way. We need to process all that is going on and your comments are not helpful. It appears that you are trying to help Gladys throw us under the bus. I hope you can understand now.
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teebzz
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09-10-08 10:06 PM
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Undertaker. no one ever answers my questions. why should I? show me ONE post where im disagreeing with what staff is talking about... ONE. birddie.. i know what facility employees are up against, 99% of the posts that have been put up over the last month or so describe it in great detail. i can read u know.
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Gerry1
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09-10-08 8:58 PM
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The time for unity between CSEA and PEF is more important than ever with the governor's announced new task force to overall the juvenile justice system. The bottom line is that Carrion wants to dismantle every upstate facility and she now has the governor's support. We can't get complacent. We need to mobilize.
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DFYOCFS
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09-10-08 8:49 PM
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Birdie are you in Central NY? The meeting is Schd. for Central NY
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birddie
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09-10-08 8:46 PM
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DFYOCFS, Thanks again, I have wrote to my local state reps. and have also scheduled 1 on 1 meetings with my Senator and Assemblyman. Undertaker, Thanks again, You could not be more direct in your questions. Only people that have work the floor as a YDA, Nurse, Teacher or YC, would understand were we are coming from, nothing agaist TeeTZZ but maybe you do not know what facilities employees are up against. To this I say Thanks to DFYOCFS, Undertaker, and Sawgunners
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DFYOCFS
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09-10-08 8:31 PM
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CSEA and PEF employees there is going to be a joint meeting to bring unity and a letter writing campagin coming up I thought I would have all the facts but waiting on an email that hasn't arrived yet. YES every facility has the same complaints and problems. Everyone needs to write their state reps and request a hearing and her removal
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Undertaker
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09-10-08 8:14 PM
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teebzz: Still dodging the questions, I see. I'll pose some slightly more direct ones in case you want to establish some shred of credibility: (Again) Have you ever worked the floor at an OCFS facility? Do you work for OCFS? What is your business here other than to disagree with every person that posts?
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teebzz
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09-10-08 1:45 PM
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sawgunner, how many times do i have to say im not on anyones side. and it IS "your" case. not mine or our's.. because there is no "our's" in "my" opinion. ChildMadness.. what do u mean "leave the people alone"? what am i doing? seems to me that there can only be staff's opinion on here and the rest are causing trouble?
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birddie
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09-10-08 10:01 AM
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Hey Tryon, what happened to your blogs?This is an agency concern. There are several other facilities with the same concerns as you have. We will stick together and fight for better working conditions and common sence polocies.We share the same cause for all facilities, there residents, staff, and family members
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sawgunner
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09-10-08 8:45 AM
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Notice how teebagzz ended their 10:06 pm post. "how juvenile and that stuff will not help ur case... the end."........"ur case"??? Hey teebagzz, don't you mean "our case"??? Have you ever worked the floor as a floor staff? Are you part of this?? Face it, It's about sides. You're either on gladys' side or our side. You can't be both because everything gladys does is anti-staff.
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Gerry1
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09-10-08 6:16 AM
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That's pretty bad when an atmosphere has been created that a resident actually grieves not being able to masturbate and an ombudsman looks into it.
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