Sammy Teusch: Indiana boy, 10, kills himself after facing year-long bullying in school

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA: Relentless bullying by classmates has taken the life of a fourth grader in Fort Wayne city.

Sammy Teusch, 10, took his own life on May 5, as per his family. They claim the bullying started last year and continued till the night before his death.

Sammy Teusch's family called his school '20 times' for bullying

The most disturbing fact is the family called the school at least 20 times regarding the constant bullying.

Sammy’s parents, Sam and Nichole, said they complained to the school roughly 20 times about the bullying that started last year when he was in elementary school.

“They were making fun of him for his glasses in the beginning, then on to make fun of his teeth. It went on for a long time,” his dad said.

“They can’t just say they have zero tolerance because that doesn’t mean there is zero tolerance about bullies, their zero tolerance means that they don’t have responsibility for it. People trust their kids to the school, but now that trust is breaking down,” said Sammy’s grandmother, Cynthia Teusch.

However, records say no bullying was ever reported by the parents or the student, claimed Dr Harold Olin, the school's superintendent.

He also informed that the school’s administrators and counselor used to have regular conversations with the family throughout the year, reported WTHR.

As per Sammy’s family, the bullying began from school and the bus to social media, such as Snapchat, though, he had limited access to the phone.

“I held him in my arms,” his dad says. “I did the thing no father should ever have to do, and any time I close my eyes, it’s all I can see.”

Ironically, the month of May is also observed as the Mental Health Awareness Month.

 'RIP Sammy'

Netizens expressed anguish over bullying that cost a young life.

One X user wrote, "The school administration should be criminally charged in cases like this. They hate doing anything about bullying because they think discipline makes the school look bad."

"Poor lil man :(..Just 10 years old?! No child should be in such pain that they do that. The head in charge and any teachers involved should be fired," another wrote. "The adults and the parents of the bullies all should be criminally charged. Greenfield Intermediate School should be shut down," slammed an individual.

One user prayed for Sammy's family, "This is tragic. Peace to his family." Another felt, "Schools are too big and inefficient when it comes to behaviour and welfare, this shouldn't be happening."

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