Question: My son is at a school camp. We got a call from the camp cautiously asking if I was ok. He told other kids that I just died in a car accident. When counselors asked him about what happened he went so far as to tell them that he was angry because the driver that hit me survived. This happened less than a half hour after I had a call with him we talked for 15 minutes about how great his day was. Then, I asked him to send me pictures of his cabin and he texted me three pictures. He had the entire class crying and the counselors doing grief counseling on life and death before they found out I was alive. The school officials and counselors have dealt with it. He has apologized to everyone. This is so out of the blue, I don't know what to think or do. I have to pick him up tomorrow.

1. He just turned 11.
2. He does not have a habit of lying besides random attempts to avoid brushing his teeth.
3. I had his brother at a Tae Kwon Do lesson so his mother took the calls.
4. No previous incidences like this. We had to deal with anger issues with him last year. He is extremely smart and is in advanced math, science, English, etc... He had a lot more work required of him and he put a lot of pressure on himself and the frustration was coming out. We worked with him to help plan and get more efficient with his work and by the end of the year the anger issues had dissipated. The only times we still sometimes see it is when he gets frustrated with his younger brother who knows how to push his buttons.
5. His mother filed for divorce in April of 2012. Due to financial conditions, she lost her job and we have a fair amount of debt, we are still living under the same roof. She sleeps in the back room. The atmosphere is generally cordial. We were never fighters.
6. I have never seen anger towards me with the exception of sometimes he feels I pick his brother's side when they are fighting. I am always calm and try to discuss who is at fault and I believe that his brother gets in just as much trouble as he does. I have seen disappointment and anger towards his mother when she leaves for 5 or 6 day weekends to stay with friends.
7. He has a younger 9 year old brother. I don't see anything that I would consider a rivalry that is out of the ordinary. They have different personalities. The 11 year old is a studious book worm and the 9 year old has non-stop energy and always wants to play and interact. They can play well together, then, at some point the older boy will want to do something quiet and individual like build Legos. This is when conflict can occur when the younger son continues to try to interact when the older boy wants to be left alone.
8. I can't think of any instances of attention seeking. We have alone time without his younger brother on many occasions and through Scouts.

What you say is not entirely unexpected. I have been getting referrals for a child psychologist.

I guess what I was looking for was some insight as to the psychology behind it. Why was it taken to the extreme of a death that obviously did not occur when I literally just had a great conversation with him 15 minutes earlier? And, more specifically, why me? Trying to remain objective, I believe we have a really good relationship and I think he would say that as well.