International student at elite Thornwood boarding school found dead in dorm room

The family arrived in New York last Thursday to visit their son, Claudio Mandia, at EF Academy in Thornwood, but their son wasn't there to greet them.

News 12 Staff

Feb 25, 2022, 10:48 PM

Updated 801 days ago

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A family wants answers after their 17-year-old son died at an elite boarding school in Thornwood just before his birthday.
The family arrived in New York last Thursday to visit their son, Claudio Mandia, at EF Academy in Thornwood, but their son wasn't there to greet them.
Instead, police met them at the airport to tell them Mandia had been found dead that morning on campus.
Mount Pleasant police say last Thursday, around 9: 30 a.m., someone called 911 about a suicidal person. Officials found Mandia dead in a dorm room, and it looked like he hanged himself.
The family's attorney says the family will take action against the school - that EF purposely isolated their son for three days as punishment and it led to his death.
The school hasn't responded to that directly, but says it has strong policies in place about the well-being of its international students.
The county District Attorney's Office says it's working with police on what should happen next.
Mt. Pleasant Police say detectives are investigating and autopsy results are expected in the next few days.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be contacted by calling 1-800-273-TALK.


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