This email as well as a reverse 911 call were issued today regarding missing student Karen Douglas…
Dear North Community:
I am writing to let you know that a Newton North senior, Karen Douglas, is missing. We are currently working with the police and her family to help locate Karen. We felt it was important to let you know given that this information is beginning to make its way into the press. At this time, the police are not treating this as a suspicious incident. I will be back in touch when we have more information.
If you have any additional information, please contact the Newton police. Our thoughts are with Karen and her family.
Best,
Jennifer Price
Principal
A tragic update to this story. This posting from Karen’s sister is heartbreaking.
http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/1ntv9q/karen_douglas_found_in_suicide_thank_you_reddit/
This touches an entire community, including our family personally as our daughter was in Karen’s class. God bless Karen Douglas and her family.
Tragic. My thoughts and prayers for her family and friends. The title of this Reddit link is extremely disturbing to me. From reading the post by Karen’s sister. There is nothing to suggest suicide. This could very easily be an accident. As she said, we will not know until after an autopsy.
This is a heartbreaking tragedy for this young woman’s family, friends and classmates, including my own daughter who is a senior at Newton North. My thoughts and prayers are with Karen Douglas’s family at this very sad and difficult time.
Heartbreaking. I wish comfort and peace to Karen’s family.
@Marie,
I would imagine the family knows more about the circumstances of the death than they are willing to share at this time.
The autopsy will probably confirm what they already know but are wishing was not true.
The most disturbing part to me is how did she get from Newton to Natick? Did she take the train from Newtonville? Did someone else take her there? I understand the NPD states there is no foul play here and I believe that. I just wonder if there was someone else with her when she took her life and did that person knowingly keep her whereabouts to themselves? I hope not…
A very sad ending to her family and friends.
So very sad. My thoughts are with her family.
@Wholetruth, I completely agree, and that is why I am so disturbed by the title of the link. I understand that Karen’s sister has shared this on Reddit but it makes me uncomfortable that this link is here. It seems like a terrible invasion of the privacy of her family, particularly her parents. It is so very heartbreaking.
Unspeakably sad. My thoughts and prayers to Karen’s family and all who knew and loved her.
Very sad indeed. I was also uncomfortable that this link was posted unframed. I would have added that the information under the link was unverified open source and if true, it is a very personal grief reaction. Reddit, after all, was responsible for lots of misinformation being circulated after the Boston Bombings including the naming of the wrong suspects. My thoughts are with the family and their privacy.
Folks, the family (including parents) shared this information publicly, on Reddit and Facebook.
Very tragic and our prayers go to her family.
I am concerned though as to why the school did not contact the parents when she was not in school on Thursday afternoon. From what I have read – they found out at Parents night when they evidently were told by teachers that their daughter was not in school in the afternoon.
And how did she get from Newton to Natick where she was found.
This is a very sad day for the Douglas family and the Newton North community and the City of Newton.
I am having a difficult time dealing with the “silence” of the Superintendent and the Mayor. Perhaps, they are waiting for some reason that I don’t understand, to contact the community.
I appreciate that Jennifer Price sent a comforting letter to the Newton North community.
We are a city of villages, and our students are dear to all of us, whether our own children go to Newton North or not.
This is a tragedy. Can we not just accept it as that and for once, not look for someone to criticize? I extend my condolences to Karen’s family and friends.
Gail – Maybe some of us NNHS parents are concerned because that could have been our child. And it is important for us to know why the parents were not notified that she was not in class.
Maybe if they had been called they might have been able to avert this tragedy. She obviously took the train from Newton to Natick and if the family had a fear/concern that she would take her life the phone call from the school might have been enough time to find her before she killed herself.
We are all looking to figure out how to prevent a next time.
According to the information provided, she was 18 years old. Many laws regarding sharing information change when kids turn 18, plus they are not legally required to be in school so truancy is no longer an issue.
This is a very personal matter. The Mayor has been in contact with the family on two occasions in the last day and I have no doubt that the superintendent will or has as well.
Agreed. My deepest condolences to Karen’s family and friends.
Note: A comment has been removed because it contained personal information about Karen. It is the policy of Village 14 not to edit comments, and I invite the commenter to try posting the comment again without details about Karen and her family.
Principal Price’s letter to the NNHS community was published in the TAB. It says “Karen’s parents want others to know that she had been struggling with personal issues for a while and she was receiving significant support.”
http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x1155172361/LETTER-Principal-Jen-Price-to-Newton-North-Community-on-Karen-Douglass-death
THe latest email to NNHS parents from Jennifer Price, which includes some service and municipal event info:
Dear North Community,
Thank you for the amazing support you have provided our school community over the last few days.
I first want to let you know that a funeral mass to celebrate the life of Karen Elena Douglas will be held at St. Patrick Parish, 44 East Central Street, Natick, MA on Saturday, October 12 at 1:00PM. Karen’s family invites you to join them for visiting hours on Friday, October 11 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, Natick, MA. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Karen’s name to the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association, 288 Walnut Street, Suite 130, Newtonville, MA 02460, http://www.medainc.org.
Should your child/children want to attend either of these services, we highly encourage you to go with them. These can be very emotional events for our students and your presence is extremely important. We also ask you to think about opening your home this weekend to students in order to create a safe place for kids to gather.
The North PTSO has arranged for a forum tomorrow night, Thursday, October 10th, from 6:00pm to 7:15pm at the West Suburban YMCA entitled Dealing with the tragic loss of a classmate: A conversation on talking with our children about death. Joanna Bridger, LICSW, and Dr. Larry Berkowitz from the Riverside Trauma Center will share important information about how to talk with your child/children about a sudden death and how to support your child/children and yourself through this difficult time. A previously scheduled PTSO meeting that includes light refreshments and a chance to learn about the many services that the YMCA offers for teens, including a tour of the Teen Center, will follow this conversation. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
Although it has been a difficult few days, we are beginning to settle back into our routines. It is amazing how resilient our students are. We have been inspired by their concern, their insight, and their support of one another. Please continue to let us know if we can help you and your family. Thank you, as always, for being our partners in this process.
Best,
Jennifer Price