Three High School Students Died After Being Hypnotized By Their Principal: Details of a Bizarre Case
In the spring of 2011, three students from the same small Florida town died – and all three had previously been hypnotized by their principal, Dr. George Kenney.
TL;DR
- Dr. George Kenney, principal of North Port High School, hypnotized over 70 people, including students, without being a licensed hypnotherapist.
- Three students – Marcus Freeman, Wesley McKinley, and Brittany Palumbo – died within weeks of each other in the spring of 2011 after receiving private hypnosis sessions from Kenney.
- Parents alleged Kenney taught students to enter a trance state, impairing their judgment and potentially leading to their deaths.
- Students reported mixed experiences, with some crediting hypnosis for academic and athletic improvements, while others described negative effects and feelings of unease.
- Kenney denied his hypnosis caused harm and claimed ignorance of potential negative effects on individuals with depression.
- Following the students' deaths, Kenney was placed on administrative leave, investigated, and ultimately resigned in 2012 after pleading no contest to practicing therapy hypnosis without a license.
- The families of the deceased students filed a lawsuit against the school board, which resulted in a settlement where each family received $200,000.