South Carolina bullies who pushed a 12-year-old girl to commit suicide later visited her in the intensive care unit to take photos that they then distributed on social media, a newly filed lawsuit alleges.
Kelaia Turner was allegedly physically and verbally attacked by peers who branded her “roach” and “mustache face” at the Dr. Phinnize J Fisher Middle School in Greenville County, her parents claim in a 24-page federal lawsuit against school district officials for ignorance.
Her mother, Ty Turner, has said she believes the bullying started when Kelaia started wearing her natural hair to school and escalated over the years.
She alleged that instead of providing support and helping to reduce the number of incidents, teachers participated in the torture.
The bullying eventually became so bad that Kelaia was found hanging from a leash in her bedroom at home and was dead for eight minutes before paramedics were able to revive her.
She was in a coma for weeks, ultimately staying in the hospital for 101 days. It was during this period that the alleged bullies snuck in and took pictures of her.
Kelaia subsequently suffered severe brain damage and no longer has control over her body. Instead, she relies on a tracheostomy tube to breathe and a feeding tube.
Kelaia Turner was allegedly physically attacked by her peers and by her peers at the Dr. Phinnize J Fisher Middle School in Greenville County has been branded with a ‘cockroach’ and ‘mustache face’
Her parents are now suing school district officials for failing to act to stop the abuse
The federal lawsuit alleges that Kelaia experienced bullying in August 2021 when her classmates began taunting her and saying she looked “like a man.”
At one point, even her teacher, Olivia Bennett, reportedly took action.
‘Madam. Bennett was complicit in the bullying and said nothing to the other students to stop it,” the complaint states.
‘A student asked, ‘Where is the cockroach?’ and Mrs. Bennett pointed to (Kelaia).”
Turner then emailed the teacher and the high school principal to complain about Bennett’s actions, noting that “children have committed suicide in the past due to this behavior,” according to the lawsuit.
The next day, the director acknowledged her complaint and said they were “working tirelessly to repair what was damaged.”
In the aftermath, both Turner and Kelaia met with the teacher to address the incident and discussed the need to separate the student who led the bullying from their daughter.
But when the student found out Kelaia had told her parents, he allegedly “scolded” the preteen girl on January 26, 2022.
He was never disciplined for the altercation, the lawsuit said.
On March 16, 2023, Kelaia was found hanging from a leash in her bedroom at home
It goes on to say that the bullying continued through 2022 “without any action being taken by the defendants,” listing other incidents and reports to school officials that Turner made — including an argument between her daughter and another student in March .
She claimed that Kelaia was suspended in the aftermath and that “the student who caused the altercation was not.”
Then, on May 23, 2022, one of Kelaia’s classmates played a song on YouTube called The Black People Song, which teacher John Teer was reportedly allowed to play without any comment about its offense or reprimands or discussions with the student who played it. , according to the suit.
Turner then went to the principal and Metris Cain, another teacher, to complain about the incident – and was again told an investigation would be launched.
But in October, Turner said another student “had pushed (Kelaia) several times over the past month.”
She claimed the offending student was never disciplined, and school officials’ only response was to tell Kelaia if it happened again.
Still, the bullying continued, and at one point water was poured on Kelaia’s clothes and then thrown in the trash.
She was in a coma for weeks and ultimately spent 101 days in the hospital
Kelaia suffered severe brain damage and no longer has control over her body. Instead, she relies on a tracheostomy tube to breathe and a feeding tube
On March 11, 2023, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of killing herself – and five days later she was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home.
According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for eight minutes before paramedics were able to revive her.
‘She felt cool, there was blood coming from her nose and she had already peed on herself. She was completely committed to what she was trying to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes.
“Paramedics couldn’t find a pulse, nor could they find her pulse. There were grown men in the room crying,” Ty recalled.
But the seriously religious mother continued to pray and after a few minutes a paramedic noticed a weak pulse.
‘He said, ‘I found a pulse. It’s very, very faint, but I found one. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I’d say he should keep doing it.’ Kelaia is a miracle.”
Once revived, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately spending 101 days in the hospital and suffering severe brain damage.
An online fundraiser shows the family is struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and increasing financial stress
The family now says nine individual teachers and faculty have failed in their duty to “create a culture of safety and an environment free from attacks.”
The lawsuit also cites violations of both the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX’s protections against gender discrimination.
The family is now seeking actual and punitive damages to cover medical bills, psychiatric costs, special education, lost wages, life support costs, disability care, damage to her psyche and emotional state, and loss of enjoyment of life.
A online fundraiser also notes that the family is struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and increasing financial stress.
“We fight for Kelaia’s healing and well-being every day, believing that she has a purpose and that her story can inspire others,” GoFundMe says.
“We’re asking for your support to help her not only survive, but thrive – through donations for a wheelchair-accessible van, medical needs and home care.”
As of Monday evening, it had raised more than $10,400 for the family.
Her parents are now seeking actual and punitive damages to cover medical bills, psychiatric expenses, special education, lost wages, life support costs, disability care, damage to her psyche and emotional state, and loss of enjoyment of life.
But school district officials have strongly denied any allegations of ignorance and negligence.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Greenville County Schools said, “The district is aware of this parent’s allegations and has discussed them directly with the parent.
“We disagree with these allegations and have thoroughly investigated and assessed each allegation at the time it was made. While we disagree with the allegations, our thoughts go out to Kelaia Tecora Turner, her mother and their family.
‘Every school implements anti-bullying strategies and programs for students, including how to recognize bullying and how to report it.
‘When a school becomes aware of possible bullying, these concerns are investigated promptly, thoroughly and confidentially.
“Steps are taken to determine what happened, and if inappropriate behavior occurs, disciplinary action will be taken against the offending student as well as strategies designed to prevent similar behavior will be implemented. If the alleged conduct is potentially criminal in nature, the police will be notified.”