Kindergartner Dies Suddenly In Sleep

Helping Your Children Cope With Loss

A school and community are left reeling after the unexpected death of a vibrant young boy.

Six-year-old Jack Knight was described by his family as energetic, robust, and full of love. Tuesday morning, his mother, Megan, found him unresponsive and unconscious in his bed. He was pronounced dead at the home.

Megan said he had, what she thought, was flu-like symptoms. She kept him home from school Monday and she thought he was feeling better Monday night. However, the next morning, he was gone.

Shock was still setting in Wednesday afternoon at Cottonwood Elementary School where Jack was a kindergartner. Parents were alerted by Millard Public Schools through a letter telling about the death. In it, the school district provided a list of tips to help parents talk to their children about loss and grieving.

Those include:
-Be available and willing to discuss the events and honestly share your feelings about them.
-Allow your child to express fears and feelings. Answer questions knowing that the questions may not come right away.
-Maintain your daily routines as it offers children a sense of security.
-Be present and watchful of your child in the days and weeks ahead.
Watch for any changes in behavior. If you do notice changes talk them over with a school counselor.
-Give assurances of love, support, and safety.
-Be patient. Children may express a variety of emotions within a short period of time.

Cottonwood also had crisis counselors available Wednesday to talk to students, staff, and parents.

Caren Duncan has a 5-year-old daughter, who was in Jack's class and his friend. She said she's just trying to listen. "She's having a lot of questions, and I'm telling her it's a hard thing, and anytime you lose a friend it's hard, but I'm also explaining that she doesn't have to worry about it, because she was a little worried that something was going to happen to her, but I think she knows she's going to be fine, and just let her tell me whatever she wants to tell me, and tell her the truth as much as I can."

The family says the autopsy results came back inconclusive, so the official cause of death won't be known for a month or more.

"I can't imagine what they're going through," said Duncan. "They are in my prayers."

A visitation is scheduled at Roeder Mortuary at 108th and Maple, from 2pm - 4pm on Saturday, February 11.