Mystery surrounds death of Vermont boy

The circumstances which led to the death of an 11-year-old Vermont boy are still being investigated by the police, with some residents in the rural community expressing that the child’s death was not intentional.

Around 2 p.m on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 news spread that a child had been found dead in Francois, Vermont, in what was initially circulated as a possible suicide.

The deceased is Gifton Myle junior, who was affectionately known by the nickname ‘Papa’.

Myle was found hanging by a rope from a rafter under the main section of the concrete house where his aunt and other relatives live. He resided in a house just a few feet away from the area where his body was found.

Relatives at the scene told SEARCHLIGHT that a young cousin of the deceased found Myle’s body hanging and alerted the family. In an attempt to resuscitate the pre-teen, he was given water, but remained unresponsive.

The cousin had reportedly seen Myle go under the house with the rope earlier in the afternoon, and it would be some time later when he went in search of his cousin that he found him unconscious.

As police carried out preliminary investigations, scores of residents converged on the area with some crying when they saw the child’s body covered with a white sheet under the house. Family members held an impromptu prayer session, led by pastor and uncle of the deceased, Timothy Myle.

Police permitted the boy’s father, Gifton Myle senior into the cordon so he could view his son’s body. Myle senior knelt and prayed over his son’s body before being escorted out of the cordon.

The recent graduate of the Buccament Government School who was set to begin his secondary school journey at the Central Leeward Secondary School in a little over a week, was described by his uncle as an active child who was involved in sports, and enjoyed playing with the other children in the community.

“He was just like any other child. He played cricket and athletics.”

When questioned about if Myle junior showed any obvious signs of being under any mental stress, the uncle said his nephew was a “normal child”.

Residents who spoke to SEARCHLIGHT echoed similar sentiments, revealing that Gifton had spent most of the summer vacation running around and playing in the village. They speculated that Gifton was most likely “experimenting” and was unable to get the rope removed from around his neck.

A Go Fund Me link, titled Gifton Myle Funeral Expenses which was launched by Kamille Foundation one day after the child’s death, described the incident as a “joke” that ended in an “unimaginable tragedy”.

“Today, a playful moment with friends turned into an unimaginable tragedy when a joke went terribly wrong, and Gifton lost his life in a tragic accident. The pain and shock of this loss are beyond words, leaving our family in utter devastation. Gifton was a cherished son, a loving brother to his siblings, and a friend to many. His radiant smile, kind heart, and vibrant spirit touched the lives of everyone who knew him. He had his whole life ahead of him, and the void left by his absence is profound,” the description from a relative of the deceased said.

Up to the time of publication of this article, the fund raising campaign had garnered just over Can$460 of the $5,000 goal.

The Police say the death is being treated as unnatural.