Family Opens Up About Heartbreaking Loss One Year After Child’s Death

Despite the overwhelming grief and unanswered questions, there have been murmurs circulating that hint at unsettling possibilities.

Some parents and insiders believe that certain school officials may have intentionally downplayed the seriousness of the bullying to safeguard the school’s reputation.

There are whispers circulating about internal emails and meetings where worries about Sammy’s condition were either ignored or downplayed.

Furthermore, some speculate that influential community connections played a role in the swift termination of the police investigation, raising doubts about whether justice was conveniently sacrificed for the sake of expediency.

The hidden truths and refusal to acknowledge the events that occurred within the school compound intensify the anguish experienced by the teusch family and further amplify the calls for a comprehensive and open investigation into the circumstances that unfolded behind the school’s closed doors. 

Distraught parents say that not a single bully or teacher who allegedly ignored their son’s suffering has been held accountable one year after their 10-year-old son tragically took his own life following relentless bullying over his teeth and glasses. 

Following the tragic loss of their youngest child, Sammy, to suicide, Samuel Teusch opened up to the Daily Mail about the immense pain he has endured over the past year. Numerous days have been filled with tears, as he holds his other children even closer than before. 

Beneath the overwhelming grief, however, is a deep anger: teusch insists that neither the students who tormented sammy at greenfield intermediate school (gsi) in indiana nor the school staff who allegedly ignored repeated warnings about the abuse have faced any consequences.

The family’s pain is compounded by the lack of response from the bullies’ families, who have not shown any remorse or offered apologies, even though it is known that the bullying persisted after Sammy’s passing. 

Teusch accuses the gsi authorities of largely disregarding the bullying allegations, which have persisted for a long time. In a devastating revelation, he shared the heartbreaking memory of spending \$525 on a new pair of glasses for Sammy, just days before his son’s tragic suicide. Sammy’s initial glasses had been the subject of mockery, and his father had hoped the trendy new frames would put an end to the teasing. 

Unfortunately, the new glasses arrived two days after Sammy’s passing, even though Sammy had personally selected the frames. 

‘it’s disgusting, shocking, and devastating,’ teusch said tearfully The bullying took place on a Sunday, and the perpetrators returned to school on Monday, as if nothing had happened, nothing had been done, and nothing had been said.

He added, ‘what message does that send? Since they consider it acceptable, the bullies will persist in targeting other children. They will ponder, ‘I hurt one child and managed to escape punishment. What if it happens to Sammy next?’ 

In December, the Teusch family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation and its governing body, naming several employees, including superintendent Dr. Harold Olin and Principal Curtis, both of whom are still employed by the district, have been instrumental in the success of the school. The school district did not provide any comment regarding the ongoing lawsuit. 

According to Teusch, Sammy’s torment started in elementary school and persisted even after their family moved from Florida to Indiana in November 2022. The bullying initially revolved around hurtful remarks about Sammy’s physical appearance, including his teeth and glasses, before progressing to physical aggression like shoving, strangling, punching, and flicking. 

Court records disclose that one classmate allegedly choked Sammy until he saw stars, while another allegedly struck him so forcefully with an iPad that Sammy’s glasses were broken and he ended up with a black eye.

Other concerning actions included a female student following sammy and encouraging him to engage in self-harm. Additionally, another girl was observed laughing on her phone and was later caught on camera taking a photo of sammy’s open casket during his funeral. 

Teusch informed the daily mail that he reported the bullying over 20 times to principal Branson Curtis and other staff members, but no action was taken. Sammy also requested assistance from his teachers, but they were disregarded. 

After enduring months of harassment on the school bus, Sammy confided in his father, saying, ‘Dad, it’s alright. I’m tired of it.’ They have no regard for my feelings. They’re not paying attention.’ ‘he felt powerless,’ teusch said. 

Despite numerous assurances from the school that bullying would not be tolerated and measures would be taken to address it, no significant changes were observed.

The final blow came on may 4, 2024, when sammy received a threatening voicemail on snapchat from a bully identified only as ‘nt’ in court documents. Teusch informed Sammy that he would regret attending school the following day if he didn’t heed the warning. 

‘nt’s actions from the previous week were nothing compared to what would happen monday,’ teusch said Unfortunately, Sammy passed away approximately six hours after receiving the message. 

On the morning of may 5, teusch had his last conversation with his son, who was cuddling with his mother in bed and asked for pancakes for breakfast. Teusch and one of sammy’s older brothers went to the store, and upon returning, sammy’s 13-year-old brother found him hanging in his bedroom. 

‘there were no signs that sammy was suicidal,’ said a devastated teusch

Despite having aspirations for the future, Sammy was so overwhelmed with fear that he believed suicide was the only viable solution.

Sammy was an incredibly loving, caring, and vibrant individual. I’m still in disbelief that he’s gone,’ said Thomas, describing his grief as a nightmare from which he hopes to wake. 

After Sammy’s passing, the local police conducted an investigation and determined that he had faced some bullying, both inside and outside of school, but chose not to pursue legal action. The investigation concluded on May 31, even though the suspect did not acknowledge in a text message that his bullying played a role in Sammy’s death. 

Former greenfield deputy police chief Charles Michael stated that there was no evidence to suggest that teachers were negligent, while Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin dismissed the family’s allegations, asserting that no bullying reports had been lodged by Sammy or his parents. 

Teusch expressed deep disappointment in the absence of accountability, accusing olin and other officials of concealing bullying allegations and retaliating against individuals who voiced their concerns.

He shared that the day after sammy died, his best friend was isolated in a classroom, crying and wanting to call his father, but the school discouraged talking about the tragedy to avoid stigma. 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, up to 20% of children aged 12 to 18 experience bullying in the United States. The american academy of pediatrics notes that while suicide is rare in children under ten, it is the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 24, surpassing any medical condition. 

Determined to turn his grief into action, teusch is working with have faith productions on a film titled ‘forever 10,’ based on sammy’s life, to raise awareness about bullying and the growing teen suicide crisis. Despite the support from some celebrities, the identity of teusch remains undisclosed. 

In addition to creating the film, teusch founded sammy’s tree foundation last year and is advocating for congress to pass stronger anti-bullying laws. 

‘sammy was loved by everyone,’ teusch said 

Teusch stressed that bullies require mental health assistance, not just the victims, in order to tackle the underlying causes of their harmful actions. 

Sammy Teusch’s heartbreaking story serves as a poignant reminder of the tragic outcomes that can arise from unaddressed bullying and systemic negligence. His family’s pain is compounded by the lack of accountability from both the school and authorities, leaving them searching for justice and answers. Yet, amid the sorrow, sammy’s father is channeling his grief into meaningful change — advocating for stronger anti-bullying laws, raising awareness through film, and creating a foundation in his son’s memory.

Their aspiration is that no other child will endure the same pain as Sammy, and that both victims and bullies will receive the necessary assistance they require. Sammy’s lasting impact is a strong call to action: to acknowledge the seriousness of bullying, to cultivate empathy, and to create safer, more caring communities for all children.