Warning: This article discusses suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.
The parents of a 10-year-old boy who took his own life have opened up about the degrading nickname bullies reportedly used against their son before his passing.
Samuel Teusch, better known as Sammy, was a fourth-grade student at Greenfield-Central Intermediate School. He tragically died on May 5, 2024.
According to the family, Sammy was found unresponsive in his bedroom by his 13-year-old brother on that morning.
Sammy’s parents, Samuel and Nichole Teusch, allege that he suffered emotional and physical bullying at his Indiana school and was frustrated by the school’s inadequate response to these issues.
In an interview with 13News, his father explained that other children ‘were making fun of him for his glasses and later on began to mock his teeth’.
“He was beaten up on the […] school bus, and the kid broke his glasses and everything,” the father asserted.
He further expressed to FOX 59: “‘How could God take my kid from here?’ Of course, that was going through my mind. God didn’t take my kid; hate did.”
While the father demanded ‘action’ and ‘accountability’, the police investigation determined there was ‘no known cause’ for Sammy’s decision to end his life, despite his parents’ bullying allegations.
In June, the Greenfield Police Department announced that ‘there will be no criminal charges filed with the Hancock County Prosecutor’.
At that time, Police Chief Brian Hartman stated: “From the outset, everyone began saying this was bullying, this was a result of bullying, and I say this with a heavy heart. Unfortunately, we do not know the cause of this.”
“There was no note or no text messages. Sammy didn’t say why he felt he had to do this.”
However, the investigation did reveal that Sammy had been targeted both within and outside the school environment, and his parents confirmed filing at least 20 reports of bullying against their son prior to his death.
Samuel and Nichole have since initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation and its Board of Trustees, according to WRTV.
In the lawsuit, they argue that there was ‘callous indifference’ to their son’s bullying, and despite being ‘repeatedly informed about the bullying of Sammy Teusch (‘Sammy’) by students under the District’s supervision, no action was taken’.
The lawsuit further claims: “As a direct and proximate result of the District’s and these individuals’ gross dereliction of arguably their most important duty, Sammy took his own life on May 5, 2024.”
The lawsuit also alleges that bullies referred to Sammy as ‘Dahmer’, a reference to American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
However, when a teacher was informed of this, the lawsuit claims that her only reaction was that, in her view, Sammy did somewhat resemble Jeffrey Dahmer.
The lawsuit also suggests that Sammy began acting out in class as ‘a cry for help’ but was instead reprimanded.
Although it mentions that the principal permitted Sammy to have his lunch in their office after discovering the ‘Dahmer’ nickname, ‘it is unknown whether [the principal] took any disciplinary actions against the bullies or informed their parents’.
According to the lawsuit, the situation worsened when Sammy entered the fourth grade.
It claims: “During breakfast period, Sammy was chased throughout the school and would attempt to hide in a bathroom stall, often refusing to come out.”
Chief Hartman acknowledged that Sammy was experiencing ‘some rough times at school from other kids’ as police ‘have statements and facts to back that up’, but noted there were also incidents ‘outside of school’.
The Chief suggested there has likely been an accumulation of factors in this child’s life that led to the tragic decision he made that day.
UNILAD has reached out to the Greenfield-Central Community School and Greenfield Police Department for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Crisis Text Line can also be reached by texting MHA to 741741.
If you have experienced a bereavement and need someone to talk to, contact The Compassionate Friends at (877) 969-0010.