WARREN, Mich. – A Warren family is channeling grief into action after losing their 13-year-old to a deadly social media challenge.
The city of Warren dedicated a bench at Butcher Park in his memory, and the family has launched a nonprofit aimed at helping other kids stay safe online.
Justin Bernath died earlier this year after participating in a viral social media trend known as the “choking game.”
His father, Christopher Pouncy, said the loss has reshaped his entire world.
“This was my pride and joy. He was everything to me,” Pouncy said.
The bench at Butcher Park — fully paid for by the city of Warren — serves as a permanent tribute to Justin at the park where he grew up spending time.
His aunt, Erika Bernath, said visiting the spot stirs up a mix of emotions.
“It makes the memories of like sitting here being here are emotional, and you know, hard to get through, but it’s the good, positive memories at the park because this was his park,” Bernath said.
Family turns pain into purpose
Despite their grief, the family says they are determined to push through the pain to ensure no other family suffers the same loss.
That drive led them to establish a nonprofit in Justin’s name, focused on helping parents and kids navigate social media safely.
“Dad wants to be able to do something to be able to let him know what happened to him does not go in vain,” Pouncy said.
The nonprofit, still in its early stages, has already received official approval from the state of Michigan and held its first event at Butcher Park — the same location as Justin’s memorial bench.
“You can always come to us,” Pouncy said. “There’s people that really and truly care about what you’re going through. For parents, it’s not like you have to regularly police your kids. Just check on them. So you don’t have to be in the club that I don’t want to be in.”
A place to feel close to Justin
Justin’s grandmother, Lori Danek, said the park holds a special place in the family’s heart.
“He loved so much to be here, and so for all of us. We’ll spend a lot of time here,” Danek said.
Justin’s little sister perhaps said it best while sitting on the bench dedicated to her brother.
“It’s like I’m sitting with my brother,” she said.
Looking ahead, the family also hopes to launch a podcast to connect with other grieving families and show them they are not alone.