‘She deserved better’: Friends call for closure of Bend nonprofit DAWNS House following woman’s tragic death
(Update: Adding video, comments from friends and DAWNS House)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- A tragic death at a DAWNS House residence is bringing to light a list of alleged harassment and bullying.
“She had such high hopes and plans and dreams and aspirations. And to die the way she died - it hurts. It just hurts. She deserved better than that,“ said Amy Cherry's friend, Stacy Sawyer.
On Thursday, Sept. 12, Cherry fell down the stairs at the nonprofit's residential treatment home for drug addiction on NE Liberty Lane.
“I know we did it at the time that I thought it was going to be a good place for her," Sawyer said. "But I will regret it 'til the day I die.”
In text messages sent to Sawyer, Cherry described being teased and harassed for hobbies like coloring books and pointed to getting into trouble after borrowing $40 from another resident.
"She had been showing me the text messages that she was being abused, mentally, that the woman in that home that runs the house, Virginia, was pumping the heat up on her, and she complained about it," Sawyer recalled.
Just days before her death, Cherry had texted that she feared going home.
"Amy texted me several times. 'I'm scared to go home. They're texting me wanting this $40, said I don't have it yet. I don't get paid - what I'm going to do?', "Sawyer said.
The executive director of DAWNS House, Virginia Schweitzer, says the issues were dealt with in the home, which usually houses up to eight women.
"I'm aware of some of these issues," she said. "And yes, these are issues that were addressed and, yes, they were discussed at the house meetings, and they were resolved."
Schweitzer added that the focus now is on ensuring the women who knew Cherry can work through the grief and stay sober. The nonprofit says it's also worked with Bend police during the investigation, which is now closed. The medical examiner ruled Cherry's death an accident.
"It's the first thing of its kind that's happened," Schweitzer said. "And our thoughts are definitely with her family and friends and her daughter, especially during this difficult time."
Nevertheless, friends of Cherry are calling for authorities to close DAWNS House, fearing bullying and harassment could lead to more harm.
Sawyer said, in tears, "My friend called me (that) Wednesday night and told me, 'I'm scared to go home.' I didn't go get her and take her to my house. I have to live with that."
Meanwhile, DAWNS House founder Dawn Holland is scheduled to enter a plea next Tuesday to eight felony counts of aggravated theft, accused of stealing over $300,000 from the nonprofit.
