Michigan mother says failures in care and social media contributed to daughter’s death

The Michigan mother recounts her daughter London’s struggle with harmful algorithms, mental health challenges, and what she calls inadequate emergency care.

LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan mother is warning families about the dangers of social media algorithms and what she describes as failures within the state’s mental health and medical systems after the death of her 12 year old daughter last year.

Charay Gadd said her daughter, London, died on August 1, 2024, after a series of mental health struggles that began when London was given a smartphone in 2020 while splitting time between two households. Gadd said she initially resisted allowing the phone in her home but eventually allowed it after London struggled emotionally during the pandemic.

In March 2023, Gadd said London was in distress and was evaluated at an emergency room, where staff recommended inpatient mental health treatment. London was 11 years old at the time and was fearful of being admitted without her mother present, so they chose outpatient care.

Months later, in October 2023, London dropped a note at school saying she would be “better off dead.” The school contacted Gadd, and the family agreed to pursue inpatient care at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids. Gadd said she chose that facility because she believed a Christian environment would be less likely to push medication.

According to Gadd, within 12 hours of London’s admission, a psychiatrist recommended medication. Gadd said she repeatedly declined but felt pressured when the psychiatrist allegedly warned that London would not be released unless medication was started. London began taking five milligrams of Prozac but later told her mother she did not like how it made her feel, and the medication was discontinued.

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Gadd said London was readmitted in July 2024 after again asking to return for treatment. Staff again pushed Prozac, Gadd said, and after being encouraged by both the facility and London’s counselor, she agreed to a ten milligram dose.

About three weeks after London returned home, Gadd found her daughter on her bedroom floor. London told her she had taken medication from her backpack. Gadd said she immediately attempted to get her daughter to a hospital.

Gadd said they arrived at a rural emergency room where staff moved slowly, did not administer activated charcoal, and gave London Zofran to stop vomiting. Gadd said she repeatedly asked about stomach pumping and treatment options but was told by staff that stomach pumping was “old school” and that activated charcoal might not be available.

While waiting for transfer to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Gadd said London began seizing around 12:35 a.m. Staff later intubated her, and Gadd said medical records show London received multiple doses of fentanyl during the procedure. London went into cardiac arrest several times and died at 2:39 a.m.

Gadd said she has been told by lawmakers and attorneys that Michigan’s medical malpractice caps make cases difficult to pursue. She also said she was informed that following London’s case, the entire emergency room staff involved had been let go, though the hospital has not publicly confirmed this.

After London’s death, Gadd hired forensic analysts from the Social Media Victims Law Center to examine her daughter’s online accounts. She said they found that London was receiving self harm and suicidal content through the algorithm despite searching for benign topics such as clothing and accessories. Gadd said analysts also found multiple accounts and email addresses she was unaware of.

Gadd is now part of national litigation involving social media companies and has traveled to Washington as parents push for stronger federal protections, including the Kids Online Safety Act. She said she plans to push for laws requiring non pharmaceutical treatment to be considered before medication for minors.

Gadd said she hopes telling her story will help parents understand the risks children face online and the challenges navigating mental health care.

“I would scream it to the world if I could,” she said. “Parents need to know. Kids need to know. Until these platforms get control and these systems change, our children are not safe.”