An Indiana family is heartbroken after their 10-year-old son, who had “big plans for the future,” tragically took his own life. Sammy Teusch, a fourth grader, had faced relentless bullying at school regarding his teeth and glasses, his family reported.
Funeral services were held Wednesday for Sammy Teusch, a beloved Indiana boy who adored fishing and had “the best smile,” while his grieving parents tried to comprehend their loss.
Sammy, a student at Greenfield Intermediate School, was repeatedly bullied by his classmates, according to his parents. On May 5, he ended his life in his bedroom, as confirmed by his family.
Remembered as a child who “knew no stranger, meant no harm to anyone, never sat still, had the biggest heart along with the best smile,” Sammy “had big plans for the future,” as stated in his online obituary.
Sam Teusch, Sammy’s father, disclosed that he and his wife had contacted the school 20 times about Sammy being emotionally and physically bullied. Recently, Sammy had been beaten on a school bus, and his glasses were broken.
“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,” Sam Teusch shared with WTHR-TV. “They knew this was going on,” he said, referring to the school officials.
Greenfield-Central Community Schools released a statement expressing their sorrow and confirming an investigation into Sammy’s death, in collaboration with the Greenfield Police Department.
“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,” the statement read.
“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,” the district added.
“While the investigation continues, we are primarily focusing our resources on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central Schools,” the statement concluded.
Greenfield police also issued a statement, stating Sammy’s death was under investigation and advising parents to communicate openly with their children.
“Parents, now is the time to talk to your kids,” the police urged. “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.”
Sammy’s parents believe the school could have done more to protect their son. His torment extended to social media, where classmates posted threats against him, according to his father.
Messages from students included threats such as, “‘I’m going to beat you up. I’m going to beat you up when you get to school,'” and often included “mean things about his (mother), which would really, really set him off,” Sam Teusch told WTHR-TV.
On a Sunday morning, Sam Teusch found his son’s body in his bedroom. “I held him in my arms. I did the thing no father should ever have to do. And anytime I close my eyes, it’s all I can see,” he said.
A GoFundMe account set up by the family to cover financial costs has raised nearly $37,000, surpassing the $30,000 goal.
“Sammy was the best kid with a wonderful personality. He was smart, funny, charming, and deeply empathetic. He brightened the lives of anyone he encountered and was the life of the party,” the campaign page stated.
“He unexpectedly ended his time here on earth, Sunday, May 5th, 2024, as a result of bullying.”
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