Army Recruiters Accused of Pushing Ohio Man Into Fatal Diet and Exercise Regimen

There may be a lawsuit in the making in Ohio where a mother has accused Army recruiters of causing her son’s death through draconian dieting techniques. The death of Glenni Wilsey, 20, would normally be a pure case of assumption of the risk. However, the recruiters allegedly recommended a bizarre and dangerous course to qualify for the Army’s EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) Unit.

Wilsey died from cardiac dysrhythmia triggered by an electrolyte imbalance as a result of dieting. His mother, Lora Bailey, says that the recruiters told him that he had to lose 70 pounds in a matter of months. She says that recruiters encouraged Wilsey to “sweat off” weight by wearing a wet suit under two sweat suits while wrapped in a waist band. He was allegedly told to run for hours while only consuming 800 calories a day.

Ultimately, he lost 85 pounds in 3 and a half months. He weighed 197 pounds when he died.

The torts case would remain a challenge if this were simply stupid advice. As an adult, Wilsey assumed the risk of the diet. However, this could turn on the level of involvement of the recruiters. At a minimum, the goals and means set for Wilsey would be reckless and hopefully constitute a deviation from Army policy.

Source:Fox8 found on Reddit.

Jonathan Turley

12 thoughts on “Army Recruiters Accused of Pushing Ohio Man Into Fatal Diet and Exercise Regimen”

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  3. Sad. Really, really sad and unfortunate. Kind of explains why bad diets and bad trainers can do to you. I hope Glenni finds acceptance in heaven. As for the Army recruiters, well, it’s time sense knocked on your doors buddy!

  4. KAY S..ALL Lawyers lie, that is their job.

    JLD…..Yes if the Sargents had told him to hold a gernade and count to 100, he probably would have. He was in NO condition to be in the military……PEROID, but they accepted him in then killed him. The Military is responsible. He was a kid and probably felt he HAD to do as they said. Not his Mother’s fault he was over weight. He was not “Morbidly obese”!. He was well over weight for the military and should never habve been accepted. Yes the military is responsible for this kids death!!!

  5. When are people going to start taking responsibility for themselves. Surely this young man knew he was out of shape, and that any type of diet so extreme was not healthy. If they handed him a grenade and said, count to 100 would he? The services need young men and women with some common sense, or they endanger the lives of everyone around them. This is a tragic occurrence and loss of a young life, however, put the blame where it belongs: With a mother who allowed her son to become so overweight in the first place, a coach who encouraged him and a young man without the sense to know that being morbidly obese is dangerous. And yes, Shame on the recruiters for even encouraging this dangerous behavior.

  6. Gotta get those numbers up … good numbers means promotion … promotion means a better paycheck … it’s all about greed.

  7. The feds are very assertive about claiming “immunity” whenever possible. Lawyers don’t like to sue the feds because, as I can prove, federal lawyers lie in civil lawsuits to expand the pleadings, increase expense and cause delay.

  8. They killed the guy, NO ONE can run for hours and consume only 800 calories. I see a cut and dry case here.

  9. I tried to convince my son that the local recruiter was not his best friend and did not have his best interests at heart but he didn’t believe me until he got to basic.

    Before he could begin basic he had to perform 10 sit-ups, 10 pull-ups and have his paperwork signed by an officer whos office was in the building he stayed in. When the time came to take the bus over to the Basic training camp there were guys that were not allowed on because they could not do one or more of those three things! The recruiters that sent those kids knew quite well that they were either physically or mentally unable to perform but they had to make their numbers. Those not going on to basic could not leave the Army or the base and time there did not count toward their enlistment – they were in limbo.

  10. Reminds me of the Wii one…

    Sacramento, California radio station found liable in water intoxication death suit
    After two weeks of deliberations, a Sacramento jury found radio station 107.9 “The End” 100 percent responsible and negligent in the wrongful death civil suit of contestant Jennifer Strange and awarded her family $16.6 million. On Jan. 12, 2007, Strange, 28, died after taking part in a “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” contest on the station’s “The Morning Rave” program. The contest challenged contestants to continuously drink water – as much as 16 ounces of water every 10 minutes – without going to the bathroom. News 10/KXTV_ 10/29/09

    However, as pointed out the recruiters could have said that they merely suggested…. for employment that he needed to lose the weight…. and this case happened in California and the present one is Ohio…

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