Distressing theory on why boy, 13, died after being run over by haunted hayride trailer

A 13-year-old boy may have been trying to scare guests on a haunted hayride when he was crushed to death by the attraction, an investigation has found.

Alexander 'Xander' Mick of Rice, Minnesota, was killed at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta, Minnesota when he was run over by a hay wagon on October 12. His death was ruled as an accident by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, the cause of death being blunt-force trauma to the head. 

 The Stearns County Sheriff's Office has closed the case, determining that no criminal charges are warranted. However, the investigative file revealed that Xander was actually volunteering as a 'scarer,' a role that involved stepping onto moving trailers to frighten attendees and occasionally reaching underneath to grab their feet.

Xander's father, a friend of the hayride owner, allowed his 13-year-old son to volunteer for the role. Dressed in denim overalls, warm clothing, and a mask or wig, Xander was assigned to a specific zone along the hayride route.

The trailers, which did not stop, traveled at a slow speed of 2.5 mph.

Despite concerns raised by some employees about Xander's age, size, and awareness of his surroundings, he was allowed to participate.

An employee recalled seeing Xander reaching into the trailer from the side, even though he was instructed to approach from the back. That same employee said they also witnessed Xander reaching for customers' feet near the trailer's wheels during a previous hayride. 

Another employee, who was riding the trailer at the time of the accident, said he felt a 'bump' and discovered Xander lying on the ground with severe head trauma. They expressed concern about the slippery conditions on the part of the trailer where actors stood, suggesting the addition of treads and better lighting for safety. 

The Harvest of Horror also released a statement regarding Mick's death, saying the loss filled them with 'deep sadness'.   

'Out of respect to the family involved, the organizers have made the decision to cancel the remaining nights of the 2024 Harvest of Horror,' it said in a statement.

The company also said it had originally kept operations going after the death according to the Sheriff's Office's instructions so they could 'keep attendees away from the accident scene.'

He  taekwondo, played the drums, was in a band, sang in the choir, and was an Eagle Scout, among others hobbies, according to his obituary.

'Sometime later, we were instructed by a Sheriff's deputy to begin turning away guests and closing down the event for the night. We complied with all of their instructions throughout the evening,' it wrote.

In his GoFundMe, Mick's mother, Teri Mick, remembers her 'amazingly unique child' as someone who 'loved Jesus with all his heart' and who was so 'full of life.'

He enjoyed taekwondo, played the drums, was in a band, sang in the choir, and was an Eagle Scout, among others hobbies, according to his obituary.

'Xander was always so helpful, scientific, very techy, loved computers, was full of energy, had a great sense of humor and an infectious smile,' the obituary read.

'Xander was kind, very polite, unique, creative, investigative, and saw the good in everyone. He always tried to be first to say: 'Love you more.''

Mick leaves behind two brothers, his parents and his grandparents. 

The day before Mick's death, another young boy was run over by a farm vehicle during a haunted hayride in a different state.

Samuel 'Sam' Jessen, 12, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, was run over by a tractor along the Haunted Hilltop Halloween hayride route in Chattanooga while hiding in the bushes with his friends, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said.

While attempting to scare other hay riders, Jessen tried to jump onto the trailer and slipped and fell underneath the wheels. He was found unresponsive, according to police.

The Haunted Hilltop called Jessen's death 'horrible' and 'tragic' and shut down for a week.

'Please, please keep the Jessen family in your prayers during this super difficult time, as well as, our staff,' the company wrote on Facebook.

Jessen played soccer and basketball and had a 'passion' for football, according to his obituary. The seventh-grader was a quarterback for his group and loved the University of Tennessee team.

Jessen hoped to one day be drafted into the Kansas City Chiefs, his obituary revealed.

The student also loved to play with the neighborhood kids, and was an 'avid reader and [an] incredible writer.'

'Sam certainly had a zeal for life. It was infectious. His smile (along with his recently installed braces) lit up every room he was in,' the obituary read. 'Sam was feisty and fearless, but also compassionate and kind.

'Sam will be missed dearly by all who had the privilege of knowing him, but especially his family.'

Jessen leaves behind a brother, sister, and his parents.