Ohio Teen Christian Faith Benge Dies While Visiting Haunted House Halloween Attraction; Grieving Mother Says 'I Trust God'
An Ohio teen died on Friday while visiting the Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park, a popular Halloween-themed attraction in Middletown.
Christian Faith Benge, 16, reportedly collapsed inside one of the park's "haunted houses" and an autopsy is currently underway to try and determine the cause of death. Her mother Jean, who said the teen was born with a heart condition, said she has comfort knowing that her daughter is "home" with "Christ."
"I did CPR until the paramedics arrived. And I trust God. He has the ultimate plan," Jean said according to ABC 15. "She's better off than we are … because of her faith in Christ I know she's home."
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Christian was born with a birth defect and had very low chances of living. She was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which prevents the lungs from developing normally, and at times she had difficulty breathing with one lung. She had been visiting the attraction with roughly 100 friends and family when she fell ill unexpectedly.
"She got halfway through the house and just collapsed," her grandmother Betty said. "She was almost through it."
The New Miami High School sophomore sang in the church choir at Eaton Road Full Gospel Church where she reportedly felt most at home.
"Because she was kind of a little more bold, so she led most of the songs for the kids here," Jean said.
Her family said they will remember her kind spirit and loving nature and her grandfather Earnest, a 30-year pastor at Full Gospel, spoke about her positive outlook on life.
"I just wish there were more giving and more loving like she lived her life," he said. "She's always been a kid that never complained, even through all the operations she went through."
The Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park, which is set up for Halloween, described the incident as a "terrible accident."
