ELLIJAY, Ga.,None — Law enforcement is investigating after a 14-year-old boy died after having his wisdom teeth removed.
Ben Ellis underwent surgery Wednesday morning, and was found dead Thursday morning.
The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are looking into the cause of death.
Ben’s family told the Sheriff's Office that he seemed fine on Wednesday after the surgery.
“He had dental surgery at approximately 10:30 Wednesday morning. Through the rest of the day he seemed to be doing fine. He went to bed. Through the day he had taken one penicillin tablet and one Oxycodone, that we’re aware of. They (his parents) checked on him around 1 .a.m., and again, he was doing fine. Then at 6 a.m., when they went to get him up, they found him deceased,” Lt. Frank Coleman said.
Ben was a freshman at Gilmer County High School and the youngest of four Ellis children to attend the school.
The school’s bulletin board was covered with messages of condolence on Friday after students were notified of his death.
Ben was well-liked at Gilmer High. He was active in the Future Farmers of America and he recently beat his older brother in a competition, winning the title of Grand Champion.
Ashton Allen has taught Ben for two years in a row.
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“He loved showing his goats more than anything. You could see it on his face when he walked into the show ring. He was the person I would always count on. Every time I would walk into class he’d be sitting here smiling at me. He was just so full of life and full of joy,” Allen said.
School Principal Erick Hofsteter was moved to tears by Ben’s death.
“It serves as a reminder of just how fragile life can be. He was our friend. We’re going to miss him,” Hofsteter said.
The GBI is performing an autopsy and toxicology tests, and the coroner told Davis that Ben once had a seizure and his family has a history of seizures. Test results could take as long as three months.