Little Sammy Teusch endured bullying in and outside of school before he took his own life earlier this month, police confirmed Friday — but no one will be charged in connection to his death.
In the heartbreaking case, the 10-year-old Indiana boy died on May 5 from “asphyxiation by strangulation, suicide,” the Hancock County Coroner ruled.
While officials admit the youngster experienced “some bullying” — as his parents have adamantly claimed — they ruled there is not enough evidence for any criminal charges to be warranted in the case.
“At the very beginning, everybody started 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,” Greenfield Police Chief Brian Hartman said Friday.
“There was no note or no text messages. Sammy didn’t say why he felt he had to do this.”
After a four-week-long investigation, police discovered that Sammy was targeted both in and out of Greenfield Intermediate School.
At least two such incidents occurred on school property — in the cafeteria and on the bus, according to his family.
“We believe he encountered some rough times at school from other kids,” Hartman said.
“I do have statements and facts to back that up. There were also things that happened outside of school … There has probably been an accumulation of things having happened in this child’s life that led up to that traumatic decision he made that day.”
The school was not found negligent in his death because administrators “addressed the incidents,” including handing one of the alleged bullies a “one day in school and a one day out of school suspension,” the police chief said.
The ruling flies in the face of claims made by Sammy’s parents — who said they complained to the school roughly 20 times about the bullying that started last year when he was in elementary school.
The kids started off by tormenting Sammy for his glasses and his teeth, but the bullying quickly escalated to violence, they said, alleging that the school never addressed their pleas for help.
The bullying continued right up until the moment Sammy decided to take his own life, they claim.
The 10-year-old boy was found dead in his bedroom by his 13-year-old brother Xander, the grieving parents previously told PEOPLE.
Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin said in a statement Friday that the police findings “are consistent with the information gleaned from Greenfield-Central’s internal investigation.”
“Greenfield-Central takes all bullying concerns very seriously. We have provided and will continue to provide a safe environment for students in our schools.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
