Warning: This article discusses suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.
The mother of an 11-year-old girl has come forward to speak about the alleged bullying her daughter faced before she tragically took her own life.
A funeral service was conducted for Jocelynn Rojo Carranza on Wednesday, February 19, following her discovery in an unresponsive state by her mother, Marbella Carranza, at their Gainesville, Texas home on February 3.
Marbella Carranza shared with CNN affiliate KUVN that she was “waiting for a miracle,” hoping for her daughter’s recovery after finding her. Sadly, Jocelynn passed away five days later, as nothing could be done to save her.
Following Jocelynn’s passing, her mother alleged that her daughter faced bullying and taunting at her Gainesville school regarding her family’s immigration status.
Before speaking with investigators, Carranza claimed she was unaware of her daughter’s victimization. She later discovered that bullies had threatened her daughter, saying they would “call immigration so they could take her parents away and she would be left alone.”
“I never knew anything about that,” she expressed to KUVN on the day of the funeral. “My daughter never showed changes. I mean, there was never anything that gave me a sign that she was suffering from bullying.”
Carranza has communicated with investigators regarding the circumstances that might have contributed to Jocelynn’s death, though she noted that there are no definitive answers yet.
She further claimed that the school was aware of the bullying, mentioning that investigators informed her that Jocelynn had been receiving counseling at school.
“It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,” Carranza said. “It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.
“(I want) justice because it’s not fair – the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter.”
The Gainesville Independent School District Police are currently investigating these bullying allegations. Meanwhile, the Gainesville Independent School District expressed it is “deeply saddened” by the loss of one of its students.
In a statement to UNILAD, the district mentioned: “Our hearts go out to their family, friends, and the entire Gainesville community during this incredibly difficult time.
“At Gainesville ISD, the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priority. While we cannot comment on specific student matters due to privacy laws, we want to emphasize that we take all reports of bullying and student safety concerns very seriously. Our district follows strict protocols for investigating any allegations, and we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for every student.
“As our school community grieves, we are ensuring that counselors and additional support resources are available for students and staff who may need them. We also encourage
families to reach out to their school administrators if they or their child need any additional support. We remain committed to working with our students, staff, and families to uphold a culture of kindness, inclusion, and respect.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.