Breaking News
12-year-old Frisco boy found dead in home (updated)
By Anthony Tosie, atosie@starlocalnews.com
Editor's Note: This article was originally published at 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 16. It has been updated to include new information.
A 12-year-old Frisco boy was found dead in his home Monday afternoon, a Frisco Police Department spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
Ethan Empey, who attended Griffin Middle School, was found by a family member late Monday. A police investigation of the death is currently in progress.
A parent in the community said Empey had many friends in the school and was well-liked by his classmates.
"Some parents took their children out of school," John Steinbeck said. "These kids are distraught; they just found out one of their best friends has died. My family has been friends with him for a long time -- he mowed my lawn."
Steinbeck added that Empey was polite and enjoyable to be around. "It's extremely sad, because he was such a great kid," he said.
Another parent, who requested not to be identified, said she remembered Empey as someone she couldn't help but love and added that Empey was like a member of her family.
"Nobody that met Ethan didn't like him -- he was just one of those kids everybody loved," the woman said. "He was a lighthearted, happy kid. If you go up to Griffin it's like a ghost town; everybody's mourning him."
The woman said her son was struggling with the news because he was best friends with Empey.
"My son keeps wondering how he's going to go to school without his best friend," the woman said. "Everybody's just heartbroken -- it's every parent's worst nightmare. The parents are sad, the kids are sad, everybody. It's heartbreaking."
Students across Frisco ISD campuses wore blue on Wednesday in memory of Empey, and a vigil was held that afternoon in Frisco's Crescent Park.
A visitation will be held Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at LDS Church in Frisco, located at 11000 Eldorado Parkway. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m.
Griffin Middle School classes will continue as scheduled, a Frisco ISD spokeswoman said, although counselors will be available for students who need them.
A 12-year-old Frisco boy was found dead in his home Monday afternoon, a Frisco Police Department spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
Ethan Empey, who attended Griffin Middle School, was found by a family member late Monday. A police investigation of the death is currently in progress.
A parent in the community said Empey had many friends in the school and was well-liked by his classmates.
"Some parents took their children out of school," John Steinbeck said. "These kids are distraught; they just found out one of their best friends has died. My family has been friends with him for a long time -- he mowed my lawn."
Steinbeck added that Empey was polite and enjoyable to be around. "It's extremely sad, because he was such a great kid," he said.
Another parent, who requested not to be identified, said she remembered Empey as someone she couldn't help but love and added that Empey was like a member of her family.
"Nobody that met Ethan didn't like him -- he was just one of those kids everybody loved," the woman said. "He was a lighthearted, happy kid. If you go up to Griffin it's like a ghost town; everybody's mourning him."
The woman said her son was struggling with the news because he was best friends with Empey.
"My son keeps wondering how he's going to go to school without his best friend," the woman said. "Everybody's just heartbroken -- it's every parent's worst nightmare. The parents are sad, the kids are sad, everybody. It's heartbreaking."
Students across Frisco ISD campuses wore blue on Wednesday in memory of Empey, and a vigil was held that afternoon in Frisco's Crescent Park.
A visitation will be held Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at LDS Church in Frisco, located at 11000 Eldorado Parkway. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m.
Griffin Middle School classes will continue as scheduled, a Frisco ISD spokeswoman said, although counselors will be available for students who need them.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News