TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) - Prosecutors announced on Wednesday they will not pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against camp counselors in connection with the death of a 12-year-old boy who died at a wilderness camp in western North Carolina. In February 2024, Clark Joseph Harman, of New York, arrived at Trails Carolina, a wilderness camp for troubled teens. Less than 24 hours later, he was found dead in his sleeping bag. His death was later ruled by a medical examiner as homicide by asphyxiation. Andrew Murray, the district attorney for Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties, said while the details of Harman's case are tragic, they did not warrant criminal charges against camp staff. Settlement reached in Trails Carolina sexual assault lawsuit "It is uncontroverted from the Medical Examiner's report that Clark Harmon suffocated while being required to occupy a personal sleeping bivy his first night at the camp. The investigation revealed that Clark Harman's death was the result of suffocation which, while tragic, did not involve criminal intent or recklessness sufficient to warrant criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter under the law," said Murray in a press release. Murray said his office reviewed autopsy reports, witness statements, camp logs, physical evidence and interviews with four camp counselors who were in the cabin with Harman the night he died before reaching the decision not to press charges. Protocols at Trails Carolina required camp counselors to put new campers in a personal sleeping bivy outfitted with a sleeping bag on their first night of camp. The bivy is zipped closed and has an alarm on it to alert staff if the camper tries to open it. Five camp counselors were in the cabin with Harman the night he died. Four told investigators they heard him "thrashing about" and uttering incoherently in his sleeping bag, none of them reported hearing any calls for help or complaints he could not breathe. Trails Carolina appeals after license revoked over camper’s death, calls NCDHHS decision ‘detrimental’ to children’s health "None of the minors disclosed hearing words of distress. It is apparent from the investigation that although the counselors understood Clark Harman was agitated and distraught with being required to sleep in the bivy, they never perceived him as suffering any type of medical distress until they attempted to awaken him in the early morning hours," Murray said. In the months since Harman's death, Trails Carolina has been closed by state officials, and multiple lawsuits have been brought against the camp. In September, the property the camp resided on was put up for sale.