3 students die after principal hypnotizes them; board pays families

Former North Port High School Principal Kenney admitted he hypnotized
16-year-old Wesley McKinley a day before the teenager committed suicide

A Florida school board has paid a total of $600,000 to three families whose children died after being hypnotized by their high school principal.

George Kenney stepped down as principal of North Port High School after Wesley McKinley, 16, Marcus Freeman, 16, and Brittany Palumbo, 17, all died shortly after hypnotic sessions in 2011.

Palumbo and McKinley killed themselves. Freeman died in a car crash shortly after hypnotizing himself -- a technique he learned from his principal.

Despite being prohibited from practising therapeutic hypnosis without a licence, Kenney reportedly used the controversial treatment on at least 75 students and staff, mostly for stress and concentration problems.  (more...)

3 students die after principal hypnotizes them; board pays families