NORTH BENNINGTON — It was as tragic as it sounds. A young girl participating in a community-based summer camp suddenly goes missing. There is the start of a frantic search and then, according to witnesses and emergency call records, a devastating 90-minute delay in alerting police and rescue personnel.
It ended with the discovery no one ever wants to see: the unthinkable death of a nine-year-old girl. Through dozens of interviews, the Banner has attempted to piece together the timeline that led to the tragic death of June Cooper, 9, who was, according to a fundraiser page, “a bright light in the lives of everyone who knew her.” The accounts come from several sources.
Most we spoke to did not, understandably, want to give their names on the record due to the tragic nature of what happened and out of respect for all involved, especially the family, and their unthinkable pain. The Our Village Camp is a 6-week summer day camp for children between the ages of 6-12 years old. It is held at Lake Paran in North Bennington five days a week, from 9 a.
m. to 3 p.m.
According to their website, Our Village Camp is “dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and enriching summer experience for children in the Village of North Bennington.” Kids utilize Lake Paran for swimming and other activities throughout the course of the summer session. The week of July 15-19, Our Village Camp held a “Wet and Wild” week, which stated, “Dive into the depths of Lake Paran as we explore the w.