A 10-year-old boy in Indiana tragically took his own life after enduring relentless bullying at school, according to his family. Sammy Teusch, a fourth-grader, committed suicide on May 5 after experiencing what his family described as “horrible bullying.”
His parents, Sam and Nichole Teusch, said they had raised concerns with the school at least 20 times over the past year. Sammy’s father, Sam Teusch, shared his heartbreaking experience with The New York Post, saying: “I held him in my arms. “I did what no parent should ever do and every time I close my eyes, that’s all I can see.”
Sammy had been bullied since last year when he was in elementary school. The torment began with his glasses and escalated to include making fun of his teeth. His father told how Sammy was physically attacked on the school bus, resulting in his glasses breaking. “I called the school and said, ‘What are you doing about this? It keeps getting worse, and worse, and worse,’” his father. reclaimed.
Despite these reports, the school district’s superintendent denied receiving any such complaints. However, the district acknowledged that school administrators and a counselor held regular conversations with Sammy’s family throughout the year. The family insisted their concerns had been made clear at the school. “They knew this was happening. “They knew this was happening,” Sam Teusch stressed.
Sammy’s grandmother, Cynthia Teusch, expressed outrage at the district’s claim to have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying. “That they can’t just say they have zero tolerance because that doesn’t mean there is zero tolerance for harassers; Their zero tolerance means they have no responsibility for it,” she told local media. She also highlighted the breakdown of trust between parents and the school system, stating: “People trust their children’s school, but now that trust is being broken.”
Sammy’s mother, Nichole, believes the constant bullying led her son to take his own life. She mentioned a particular incident in a bathroom the week before his death that left Sammy too scared to return to school. Reflecting on his loss, she said: “He was my little son. He was my baby. He was the youngest.”
The family’s tragic loss underscores the serious impact of bullying and the critical need for schools to take proactive measures to address and prevent such behavior.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They’re available 24/7 by phone or online chat.