By Carol Stark
cstark@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Anthony Maples and other members of his church youth group spent Saturday night playing video games, sharing stories and joking with each other during a gathering at his pastor’s home.
The Rev. Bill Doubek, pastor of the First Lutheran Church of Neosho, said Maples, 16, was laughing with friends and seemed fine when he left his home at 1 a.m. on Sunday.
But later Sunday morning, Lynette Maples heard her son moan. When she went into his room, his head was hanging over the bed and he was unresponsive, according to an accounting released by the medical examiner. The Neosho High School junior remained in that condition as he was being life-flighted to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
By Thursday, Maples was dead.
Officials are in hopes that an autopsy conducted Friday will answer questions surrounding the teen’s death, but Doubek said hospital officials had performed exhaustive tests on Maples hoping to find the cause of his illness.
“When Anthony was taken off his ventilator on Thursday just before he died, doctors had absolutely no idea why he was dying,” said Doubek.
Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges on Friday confirmed the death of Maples, of 1301 Pineville Road, Neosho.
Doubek said Maple’s parents, Tim and Lynette Maples, have returned to their home to make funeral arrangements for their son.
“He was a wonderful young man and was as close to my two sons as a brother,” said Doubek.
“As word of his illness spread throughout the community, teens gathered at the church on Wednesday night — more than 100 of them — and prayed for Anthony. We are all devastated by this young man’s death.”
Neosho High School Principal Darren Cook said Maples was active in the high school’s Key Club, a service organization and he was a three-year wood-tech student.
Cook said teachers, on Friday, were provided with a statement they could read to their students, and counselors were pulled in from throughout the district to offer grief counseling.
“Many of our students knew that Anthony was ill and had been sending cards and well wishes to the hospital in Kansas City,” said Cook. “Some of his friends had gone to visit his family. The finality of his death has been difficult,” said Cook.
Bridges said the autopsy is being conducted by the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s office.
Doubek said Maples had sent text messages to some of his friends earlier on Saturday that he was having headaches.
“Right now, that’s our only clue.”
Doubek said while no official fund has been established, money given to church officials is being deposited into the family’s bank account.
The family’s pastor said the young man was studying as a peer pastor and had plans to attend the University of Arkansas.
“Anthony was the type of young man who at first seemed shy and quiet,” Doubek said.
“But in reality, he loved to laugh and he made others laugh. He also was a huge Razorback fan. He’ll be buried in his favorite Razorback shirt.”
Carol Stark is the editor of The Joplin Globe.
Local News
Officials seeking cause of Neosho teen’s death
- Local News
-
-
Couple 'scoop out' ice cream business from the past
When 3-year-old Brynlee Rabel tried coconut ice cream for the first time Tuesday, it was love at first taste. “She got the vanilla, but when she tasted my coconut ice cream she had to have it,” said Kayleigh Daugherty, a Joplin resident who wanted Brynlee to share the same experience she had as a little girl when she visited Anderson’s Ice Cream.
-
Missouri National Guard releases records involving soldiers who looted from Wal-Mart
The Missouri National Guard has released records confirming that four soldiers were disciplined for taking merchandise from the ruins of a Wal-Mart store in Joplin one day after the tornado that devastated the city a year ago.
-
Joplin school board awards contract to complete demolition of JHS
The Joplin Board of Education on Tuesday night accepted a bid for finishing tornado-related demolition at the high school.
-
Auditor cites, commission covers potential shortfall in Jasper County sheriff’s budget
The Jasper County Commission on Tuesday approved the transfer of $23,000 onto the Law Enforcement Sales Tax fund available to the sheriff’s office to cover a potential budget shortfall.
-
Joplin METS director requests space for additional ambulance
If all goes like METS Director Jason Smith hopes, this time next year the service will have two ambulances in Webb City, housed in their own station. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Smith requested that the council allow the Joplin-based Metro Emergency Transport System to rent or lease space at the former public works building, 110 E. Church St.
-
Mike Pound: Food competitions combine to make culinary heaven
It’s such a great idea, you wonder why someone didn’t think of it before. In fact, it’s such a good idea that it’s possible it came about by accident.
-
Mo. court strikes down part of 2008 harassment law
The Missouri Supreme Court has struck down part of a state harassment law enacted after the suicide of a St. Charles County teenager who was teased over the Internet.
-
Cattle rustlers strike again in SW Mo. county
The plague of cattle rustling goes on in southwest Missouri’s Greene County.
Sheriff Jim Arnott says the latest episode occurred sometime Sunday in Walnut Grove. -
Bids sought for Cherokee County water treatment plant
After many delays, construction bids are being sought for a water treatement plant and water tank for the Spring River Public Wholesale Water District No. 19.
-
Dog helps some get through the court process
Sophie, a mutt of a dog with draping ears and dotted brows, is helping people in St. Louis County court tell stories of crime to judges, investigators and attorneys.
- More Local News Headlines
-
