“I don’t like to hear the rumors,” said Burns’ mother, Lori Lolmaugh.
“It’s hard to stop people from jumping [to conclusions] when they hear something like that,” said Robert Phillips, whose grandson attends Oak Manor Sixth Grade Center.
Dr. Robert Knox, Cass County medical examiner, told WSBT Destany Frick – by all accounts – was a healthy little girl and did not have any known medical problems. He also said he does not have any reason to blame her death on tainted Halloween candy, but anything is possible.
“She was at school the day before, she had not been ill or anything, so it came as a complete surprise to all of us,” said Oak Manor principal Robin Hadrick.
WSBT spoke with several parents who said they’ve already thrown out their kids’ Halloween candy…just in case. Meanwhile, those who knew and loved the popular sixth-grade student – Destany Rose Frick, known by some of her friends as “Rosie” – are remembering what made her such a special little girl.
“She was kind of a popular student. She didn't have any enemies,” Hadrick said. “They just all loved her, so we knew this was going to be difficult.”
The school brought in counselors to help grieving students and teachers. It also encouraged students to add kind words about Destany on a memorial poster board to be given to her family.
But it’s still difficult for those grieving the loss and attempting to sort through the rumors and concern.
“My teacher told us not to believe [the rumors] because we don’t know if it’s the truth yet,” Burns said.
An autopsy was done on Destany Frick's body in Grand Rapids on Thursday, but the Cass County Sheriff's Department says its policy is not to release the results of that autopsy until toxicology results come back. That could take anywhere from one to four weeks.
A news release from the sheriff’s department said investigators do not suspect foul play, but they are asking anyone with information about the case to call the Cass County Tipline at 800-462-9328.
Police would not say what other parents should do with their kids’ Halloween candy.
