Meeker, Stories

The choking game: ‘Good kids high’ is no joke for teens

MEEKER I “Come on, try it…I dare you.” This was a quote from an episode of Criminal Minds (Risky Business) about a dangerous game called the “choking game.” The FBI team discovers the quote on a website used to convince teens to play the game. “It’s the ‘good’ kids’ high,” says one of the FBI agents. Many good kids may see this game as an innocent, harmless way to fit in.
In reality this game is not at all harmless.
When Sarah Pacatte was young, she was enticed into playing the game by kids from a different town. This game was called the “hyperventilation game.” She only did it once, unimpressed by the high it was supposed to give. She thought it was an unimportant part of her past.
Until it killed her son.
Gabriel Harry Mordecai was a twin. He was a very caring, active young man who loved everything about his life and he was Sarah Pacatte’s son.
Gabriel had an older brother and a twin brother. He loved the outdoors and snakes. He was an honor student who wanted to go to college, then head to the Marines Special Forces. His idea of bliss was someday to retire and care for snakes.
That all changed when Gabriel began playing this game.
One day Sarah overheard her twin sons talking about the game. She told them to “stop — it could kill them,” thinking she was exaggerating; not knowing the game actually could.
A while later, while fishing with their older brother, Gabriel found a rope and started to chase Samuel around. Samuel told him to stop and tried to convince him to throw the rope away.
Gabriel snuck the rope home.
Once inside his bedroom, he tied the grimy cord to his top bunk and wrapped it around his neck. He didn’t tie it — just loosely looped it. His brother discovered him and called frantically for his mother. Sarah rushed in and when she slipped her fingers underneath the rope, it fell away. The slight pressure had been deadly, though.
Gabriel’s twin brother, Samuel, called 911 while his mom tried to do CPR. The following is a transcript of the 911 call:
“Hi, I have an emergency,” said Samuel, overwhelmed in tears.
“OK, what is your emergency?” The 911 lady asked, trying to keep calm.
“My little brother might be dead.”
“Your husband might be dead?” She said, not understanding.
“No, my brother.”
“Your brother. OK, is he there with you?”
“Uh, uh, yeah.”
“OK.”
“But we think he might be dead. I don’t know.”
“OK, hold on a second. How old are you? How old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
“OK, where is your brother at? Where is your brother at?” Repeating herself to try and get Samuel to understand.
“He’s in our room.”
“He’s in your room. Is he breathing? Are you there by yourself?”
“No, I’m with my mother.”
“OK, I want you to stay on the line with me.”
“OK, ok. I need you to get an ambulance right away.”
“OK, why do you think he’s dead?”
“Because there’s a rope around his neck tied to a bunk bed and he’s all purple and stuff.”
“OK, how old is your brother?”
“Thirteen, we’re twins.”
“OK, you’re twins and he’s 13, too?”
Gabriel died 18 days after he was taken to the hospital. He was just 13-years-old.
In another part of the country, Kevin Tork was playing the same game. His parents described him as a boy who would do anything for anyone.
When walking his sister home, a truck drove past them and yelled something at them. The truck drove up a hill and turned around. The passenger had a knife, Kevin pulled his sister behind him and the car drove off.
When Kevin and his family were having lunch downtown, a lady came to Kevin’s dad asking for money. He said he would not give her money but offered his meal. Kevin pulled out a $10 bill he earned mowing lawns and gave it to the lady. Though his parents said she would probably use it to buy drugs, Kevin believed it would help her.
On Monday, March 30, 2009, Kevin took a belt for the bathrobe he had gotten from his dad. He tied it around his neck. When his sister walked into the room the choking game had taken effect. His heart was still beating but he died on the way to the hospital. He was just 15-years-old.
Both sets of parents have had to fight through a horrible tragedy.
“I think of him every minute, of every hour, of every day,” says Ken Tork.
“I think of him all the time, he is still my boy,” says Sarah Pacatte.
They both prayed and looked to God for help. Something they didn’t do is crawl in a corner and give up. They have done everything they can to tell about the horrors of this game.
Have you played the game?

Editor’s note: According to his teacher Kathleen Kelley, Shepperd contacted and interviewed parents of the choking victims and one of the parents, Mr. Torp has agreed to come to Meeker to give a high school and community presentation on the choking game.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
  • The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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