Police confirmed Friday that Sammy Teush endured bullying both in and outside school before taking his own life earlier this month, but no one will be charged in connection with his death.
In this heartbreaking incident, a 10-year-old boy from Indiana died on May 5th from “asphyxiation-suicide.” The Hancock County Coroner ruled.
Authorities acknowledge that the boy was subjected to “some bullying” — a claim his parents adamantly maintain — but determined there wasn’t enough evidence in the case to justify criminal charges.
“Initially everyone started saying this was bullying, this was the result of bullying, but I say this with a heavy heart: unfortunately, we do not know the cause of this incident,” Greenfield Police Chief Brian Hartman said Friday.
“There was no note, no text message, and Sammy has not said why he felt he had to do this.”
After a four-week investigation, police discovered Sammy had been targeted both inside and outside of Greenfield Middle School.
According to the family, at least two similar incidents occurred on school grounds, once in the cafeteria and once on a bus.
“We believe he was treated harshly by other kids at school,” Hartman said.
“There is testimony and facts to support that. There was a lot going on outside of school… There were probably a lot of events building up in this child’s life that led to the terrible decision he made that day.”
The police chief said the school had not been found negligent in the student’s death because it had “dealt with the incident”, including giving one of the alleged bullies “a one-day suspension and a one-day suspension from school”.
The ruling comes against the claims of Sammy’s parents, who say they complained to the school about 20 times about the bullying that began when Sammy was in primary school last year.
They say children initially bullied Sammy about his glasses and teeth but the bullying quickly escalated into violence, and claim the school never responded to their pleas for help.
They claim the bullying continued right up until the moment Sammy decided to take his own life.
The 10-year-old boy was found dead in his bedroom by his 13-year-old brother, Xander, leaving his parents devastated. He previously told PEOPLE.
Superintendent Harold Olin said in a statement Friday that the police findings are “consistent with information obtained from Greenfield Central’s internal investigation.”
“Greenfield Central takes all concerns regarding bullying very seriously, and we have always and will continue to provide a safe environment for students at our school.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or Suicide Prevention Lifeline.org.
