North Port High Principal Charged After Student Deaths Following Hypnosis Sessions

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a bizarre and tragic case, the former principal of North Port High School in Florida, George Kenney, pleaded no contest in 2012 to two counts of practicing hypnosis on students without a license. Between 2006 and 2011, Kenney had hypnotized as many as 75 students, teachers, and parents on school grounds, despite repeated warnings from administrators. In the spring of 2011, three students - Marcus Freeman, Wesley McKinley, and Brittany Palumbo - died within weeks of each other, shortly after undergoing Kenney's hypnosis sessions. The community wondered if Kenney's unauthorized therapy had anything to do with the deaths, with some speculating that Freeman may have been in a trance when he crashed his truck, and that McKinley and Palumbo became more vulnerable after the sessions. Kenney ended up with a year's probation, was placed on leave, and then retired with a full pension. The families of the three teens later sued the school board and settled for $600,000 in 2015.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of unqualified individuals practicing hypnosis, especially on minors in an educational setting. It raises questions about the oversight and regulation of alternative therapies in schools, as well as the need for clear protocols around parental consent and mental health support for students. The tragic outcomes also underscore the lasting impact on families and communities when such incidents occur.

The details

George Kenney, the former principal of North Port High School in Florida, pleaded no contest in 2012 to two counts of practicing hypnosis on students without a license. Between 2006 and 2011, he had hypnotized as many as 75 students, teachers, and parents on school grounds, despite repeated warnings from administrators. In the spring of 2011, three students - Marcus Freeman, a 16-year-old football player who crashed his truck and died; Wesley McKinley, a talented guitarist who died by suicide; and Brittany Palumbo, a senior who also took her own life - died within weeks of each other, shortly after undergoing Kenney's hypnosis sessions. The community wondered if Kenney's unauthorized therapy had anything to do with the deaths, with some speculating that Freeman may have been in a trance when he crashed, and that McKinley and Palumbo became more vulnerable after the sessions.

• In early 2012, George Kenney pleaded no contest to two counts of practicing hypnosis on students without a license.
• Between 2006 and 2011, Kenney hypnotized as many as 75 students, teachers, and parents on school grounds.
• In the spring of 2011, three students - Marcus Freeman, Wesley McKinley, and Brittany Palumbo - died within weeks of each other, shortly after undergoing Kenney's hypnosis sessions.
• In 2015, the families of the three teens sued the Sarasota County School Board and settled for $600,000.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.