**Trigger Warning: This article includes a discussion on suicide which might be upsetting for some readers.**
A devastated father is demanding systematic changes after his 10-year-old son tragically ended his own life.
Samuel Teusch, affectionately known as Sammy, a fourth grader at Greenfield-Central Intermediate School, died on Sunday (5 May).
According to his heartbroken parents, Samuel and Nichole Teusch, Sammy took his own life after enduring emotional and physical bullying at his Indiana school.
Sammy’s father shared with 13News the heartbreaking details of the bullying his son faced, noting that children taunted him over his glasses and later, his teeth.
“He was beat up on the […] school bus and the kid broke his glasses and everything,” the dad elaborated on the physical assaults Sammy endured.
He mentioned that Sammy’s ‘broken glasses’ now rest on a ‘memorial shrine’ that his siblings lovingly created.
Speaking to FOX 59, the father expressed his profound grief: “‘How could God take my kid from here?’ Of course that was going through my head. God didn’t take my kid; hate did.”
The father is not only ensuring that Sammy’s memory lives on but is also advocating for ‘action’.
“There needs to be action. There needs to be accountability. There needs to be something that shows these defenseless children that even if you feel like there isn’t someone at home to talk to or take care of, there are thousands of people out there that want to hear your voice.
“I want his image to be a source of empowerment for children who feel like they can’t come to someone and speak.”
He added, “To put that little boy into words is just impossible. The people that got to know him are definitely blessed to have known him.”
Meanwhile, the Greenfield-Central Community Schools district has responded to the tragedy.
A spokesperson shared with FOX59 and CBS4: “The death of Samuel Teusch is tragic, and it has left our school corporation and larger community in tremendous grief. Our hearts pour out to the family at this time.
“Sammy was a student in Greenfield-Central for the last year and a half. […] We were made aware of his death on Sunday afternoon, and we dispatched our crisis response team to both Greenfield Intermediate School and Greenfield Central Junior High School (where he has two siblings) to start the week.
“We have been fortunate to have an outpouring of support from our Hancock County school peers and the faith community, who also made themselves available to our students and families.
“We have continued to provide additional mental health professionals in these two schools this week, and we have reminded all G-C families that we have mental health professionals in all eight of our schools to support our students throughout this crisis.
“Our staff in Greenfield-Central has worked with the Teusch family quite a bit over the last 18 months. Contact between school personnel and the parents was frequent.
“The parents did report the manner of death as a suicide, and we are investigating their claims related to bullying. Beyond our own investigations, we are cooperating with the Greenfield Police Department in this matter.
“While the investigation continues, we are primarily focusing our resources on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central Schools.”
Deputy Chief Charles McMichael from the Greenfield Police Department confirmed that the investigation into Sammy’s death is still ongoing.
The department urged parents: “Now is the time to talk to your kids. There shouldn’t be anything in their lives you don’t know about. School, homework, sports, friends, every aspect of their lives. The more conversations you have about everyday life, the more comfortable they will be talking about the hard stuff.
“One concerning aspect right now is just being close to someone that has died by suicide is a risk factor for child suicide. 988 is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Locally, people can contact the Hancock Health Connection Center for support, resources, and counseling.
“This death is tragic for our entire community. Our hearts break for this child’s family and friends. The Greenfield Police Department is committed to investigating this case to its full conclusion. Anyone with information to share about this case can contact Detective Brandon Pope by email at [email protected].”
Sammy’s funeral is set for 15 May, with his obituary encouraging people to plant a tree or donate to charity in his memory. A GoFundMe page has also been established to support Sammy’s family.
For anyone struggling or in crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988, chat at 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line by sending MHA to 741741.
For those grieving and in need of someone to talk to, contact The Compassionate Friends at (877) 969-0010 for confidential support.