Ryan Knudson

Later that summer, Bell's mother and stepfather went on a trip to Las Vegas.

According to a police report, Barnes drank heavily and used cocaine.

A coroner ruled her death an accident caused by diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition resulting from a lack of insulin, with acute cocaine toxicity as another significant condition.

After Barnes died, Bell's father wanted to bring his son back to Northern California.

So he visited Bell's high school in Mission Viejo.

Why didn't he want to talk to his dad?

And also, didn't his dad win that court case that said he had to go back and live with them?

And he was very close with his mother, and so... Yeah.

Yeah.

In a statement, Bell's father said, quote, decisions were made about my son's life, his schooling, and his future without my consent or involvement.

Adding, quote, my family has been torn apart by adults who should have protected us, and now I'm left trying to pick up the pieces.

His grandmother added that they wanted him to be, quote, safe, loved, thriving, and surrounded by people who truly have his best interests at heart.

Bell's father and grandparents also sued Mission Viejo School District, which has denied wrongdoing.

The case is ongoing.

Bell's stepfather, Isaiah Sandoval, didn't respond to requests for comment.

In a letter to a judge in one of the court cases, Sandoval wrote, So what happened to Philip Bell for his senior year?

I mean, this message went out that his senior year was for sale.

In 2024, Bell started his senior season at Mission Viejo as one of the top wide receivers in the country.

And it was time for him to make a decision about where to go to college.

The Ohio State University, one of the best football programs in the country.