There will be no criminal charges sought by the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office against a Niles hotel were a 13-year-old boy was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Bryan Watts was killed when he was swimming with friends at the Niles Quality Inn pool the morning of April 1. The cause of the poisoning was later determined to be a disconnected pool heater ventilation pipe. Other kids were sickened and rushed to the hospital.
In a statement, Prosecutor Michael Sepic admits that, while there was a degree of negligence involved with both the hotel staff and the person replacing the pool heater in 2012, it doesn’t “reach the definition of gross negligence” under Michigan law.
However, Sepic goes on to say that his decision will not have an impact on the “potential of civil liability.” The family of Watts is suing the hotel over his death.
