Bullying tragedy: heartbreaking suicide
Editor’s note: This article mentions suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, resources or someone to talk to, you can find it at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website or by calling 800-273-8255. People are available to talk 24/7.
Sam Teusch and his family have been living a nightmare since his son, Sammy, died by suicide earlier this month after enduring relentless bullying.
It started as a typical Sunday morning. Sam Teusch was in the kitchen preparing eggs and pancakes. He discovered his 10-year-old son, Sammy, unresponsive in his bedroom. Though Sammy’s body was still warm, he wasn’t breathing. Teusch immediately performed CPR, speaking to his son the entire time. “I kept thinking, ‘If you just hear my voice, you’re not gonna leave me,’” Teusch recalled in an interview with NewsNation.
Sammy’s father is haunted by the memory of that day. “Listen to daddy,” he told Sammy as he held him. “You hear me; you’re a fighter. Get up, come on.”
Sammy’s family described him as having a loving heart. He was the kind of boy who used his birthday money to buy gifts for his parents and siblings instead of himself. “Sammy was the best kid with a wonderful personality. He was smart, funny, charming, and deeply empathetic,” said a GoFundMe set up for the family. “He brightened the lives of anyone he encountered and was the life of the ‘party.’”
Despite his friendly nature, Sammy was frequently bullied. He was teased about his teeth and glasses, attacked on the school bus, and had his iPad stolen and used to hit him in the head. Sammy came home with broken glasses, a black eye, and scratches on his face and neck. Just last week, he was attacked again in the school bathroom.
Teusch and his wife had contacted staff and teachers at Sammy’s school, part of the Greenfield-Central Community Schools system, more than 20 times about the bullying. The school often called Teusch, informing him that Sammy was hiding in closets or under desks out of fear.
Teusch recently discovered that the night before Sammy’s death, there were threats made against his son, warning him that he would be attacked at school on Monday. Now, other parents are speaking out about the issues in the school district. The Olson family, for example, learned that their son Braylon had also considered suicide at just 11 years old after being bullied for his weight and speech impediment in gym class. Braylon’s mother, Brandy Olson, is tormented by the graphic details of her son’s plan.
Brandy Olson said they did everything they could to help Braylon, including therapy and medication. She even quit her state job to be with him constantly. However, the bullying at school continued. The bully remained in Braylon’s class, and he was regularly tormented. Instead of removing the bullies, the school often asked Braylon to leave the class.
Greenfield-Central Community Schools issued a statement to NewsNation local affiliate WXIN, stating that they and the Greenfield Police Department are investigating Sammy’s death. The district confirmed that there had been frequent contact between school personnel and Sammy’s parents over the last 18 months. “Our hearts pour out to the family at this time,” the statement said.
Deputy Chief Charles McMichael of the Greenfield Police Department mentioned that the investigation is ongoing and that limited information can be shared at this time. However, the police department urged parents to talk to their children regularly. “The more conversations you have about everyday life, the more comfortable they will be talking about the hard stuff,” the statement said.
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