Boy Suffocates Himself With Tape

A 13-year-old boy found dead with duct tape wrapped around his head was “obsessed” with tape and had frequently wrapped G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls with it, his family told police.

An uncle found Michael P. Olson’s body on Sunday in the woods near his home. The boy’s entire head, including his mouth and nose, were wrapped in a large quantity of duct tape, and a roll of duct tape was found next to him.

Police believe the boy accidentally suffocated while playing with the tape. They also found a roll and wads of tape in the boy’s bedroom.

Olson’s 19-year-old sister, Errin Olson, told police her brother was “simply obsessed with any kind of tape,” and his mother, Barbara Reetz, said she had taken tape away from him several times.

Both said Olson frequently used the tape to wrap the dolls.