According to a police interview with the Cleo Wallace staffer in charge, Beck fell backward while he and two other adults were walking him backward, restrained. When he hit, he screamed out in pain, and I knew he was hurt. I don't think she tripped him on purpose. I knew he was injured pretty bad because even though he is always theatrical about things, this was legitimate yelling. Despite the back injury, the staff members turned Beck over onto his stomach and eventually moved him into the isolation room.
Records show a nurse arrived an hour later.
Beck was never examined by the center's doctor. Three days later, Beck told his parents, during a visit, about his injuries. His parents immediately took him to Memorial Hospital, where an X-ray showed a cracked vertebrae. Colorado law requires cases of suspected child abuse cases to be reported within 24 hours. But the police were not notified of the injury until the teenager was taken to the hospital.