Solemn footage captured the moment hundreds of motorbikes rode side by side as they paid tribute to a 10-year-old who was bullied and took his own life.
Mourners gathered Tuesday in Greenfield, Indiana, for the funeral of Sammy Teusch, who tragically took his own life on May 5 after enduring years of bullying.
Many attended the boy’s vigil without ever knowing him and were moved by Sammy’s story after his parents shared their grief.
“He was my little boy. It was my baby. He was the youngest,” his distressed mother Nichole told WTHR, while his father Sam said bullies targeted his son because of his appearance.
Solemn footage captured the moment hundreds of motorcycles rode side by side as they paid their respects at the funeral of 10-year-old Sammy Teusch in Greenfield, Indiana, on Tuesday.
Sammy Teusch, 10, tragically committed suicide on May 5 after suffering years of abuse
In heartbreaking footage from Sammy’s funeral, his parents were seen standing by his coffin crying as mourners passed by.
In heartbreaking footage from Sammy’s funeral, his parents were seen standing by his coffin crying as mourners passed by.
A service was also held in a nearby auditorium, where loved ones shared fond memories of the boy and his family, and a pastor read a final prayer.
A candlelight vigil is also planned for Friday in Greenfield, as the small town recovers from Sammy’s tragic suicide.
His parents, Sam and Nichole, said he was bullied both physically and emotionally at his school and was tormented daily until the night he died.
They said the bullying started last year when he was in elementary school and followed him to Greenfield Middle School.
The harassment escalated until a recent incident on a school bus in which he was beaten, and Sammy’s parents said they spoke to teachers and school staff about the bullying on 20 occasions. , but no action was taken.
His father Sam told WTHR, “At first they made fun of him for his glasses, then to make fun of his teeth. It lasted a long time.
“I held him in my arms. I did what no father should ever have to do, and every time I close my eyes, this is all I can see.
Mourners gathered for Sammy’s funeral Tuesday morning. Many did not know the boy but were moved by his tragic story.
Sammy’s parents, Nichole and Sam, said their son was bullied because of his glasses and then his teeth.
His parents, Sam and Nichole, say he was physically and emotionally bullied at school, with Sammy recently beaten on a school bus.
According to the family, they contacted their son’s school 20 times about the harassment.
The abuse then became physical, Sam added: “He got beaten up on the school bus, and the kids broke his glasses and everything.
“I called the school and was like, ‘What are you doing about this?’ It just keeps getting worse, worse and worse. And it doesn’t get any better. In fact, the situation is getting worse.
Speaking to 21alive, her grandmother Cynthia said: “They can’t just say they have zero tolerance, because that doesn’t mean there’s zero tolerance for bullies.
“Their zero tolerance means they are not responsible. People are entrusting their children to school, but now that trust is crumbling.
Dr. Harold Olin was approached by the outlet for an interview and said he was unavailable, but claimed no reports of bullying were ever submitted by the family.
Olin added that school administrators had conversations with the family throughout the year, but did not share the content of those conversations.
Sam added: “(The school) knew this was going on,” with bullying ranging from school and the bus to social media platforms like Snapchat.
His mother Nichole said: “He was my little boy. It was my baby. He was the youngest.
Her grandmother Cynthia says the trust people put in schools when they collapse
Sammy’s heartbroken family said he was bullied daily until the night he died.
The bullying began last year when he was in elementary school and followed him to Greenfield Intermediate School.
Dr. Harold Olin, left, was approached by the media outlet for an interview and said he was unavailable. Bronson Curtis, right,
Greenfield-Central Community School said in a statement: “The death of Samuel Teusch is tragic and has left our school corporation and the community at large with immense grief. Our thoughts are with the family at this time.
“Sammy had been a student at Greenfield-Central for a year and a half. He completed 3rd grade at Weston Elementary School in May 2023, and he was a 4th grade student at Greenfield Intermediate School during the current 2023-24 school year.
“We were notified of his death on Sunday afternoon and sent our crisis response team to both Greenfield Intermediate School and Greenfield Central Junior High School (where he has two siblings) to start the week.
“Our Greenfield-Central team has worked extensively with the Teusch family over the past 18 months. Contacts between school staff and parents were frequent.
“The parents reported the death as a suicide and we are investigating their allegations related to bullying.”
“While the investigation continues, we are primarily focusing our resources on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central schools. »