By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-23 15:20:03 | Updated at 2024-11-24 15:48:33
1 day ago
The family of a South Carolina girl who attempted suicide after suffering brutal bullying are now suing her school for ignorance.
Kelaia Turner attended the Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville County for two years - at the age of 11 and 12.
During that time, the young girl was allegedly physically assaulted by peers and branded a 'roach' and a 'man', according to the 24-page lawsuit filed by the family.
Mother Ty Turner believes the bullying began when she started wearing her natural hair to school and despite multiple efforts, the school took no action.
'There was no less than seven to nine times that I, myself personally, reached out to the school, and I had the emails, and half the time they didn't respond back, and if they did, it wasn't with anything of any sustenance, there was never any resolution,' she sorrowfully told WYFF.
Ty also alleged that instead of providing support and helping reduce incidents, teachers joined in on the torture.
'All names Kelaia was called in the presence of a teacher or faculty and staff members with no repercussion.
'According to Greenville County schools where she attended, there is ZERO TOLERANCE to bullying, except there wasn't. Some teachers were actually complicit,' she said in a Facebook post.
The family of Kelaia Turner who attempted suicide after suffering brutal bullying from her peers are now suing Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville County for ignorance.
After months of relentless bullying, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing suicide on March 11, 2023.
Five days later, she was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home.
According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her.
'She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose, and she had already urinated on herself. She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes.
'Paramedics couldn't find a pulse, and they couldn't find her heartbeat. There were grown men in the room crying,' Ty recalled.
But the earnestly religious mother kept praying and after a few minutes, a paramedic found a faint pulse.
'He said, "I found a pulse. It's very, very faint, but I found one. I don't know what you're out here doing but I would say he should keep doing it". Kelaia is a miracle.'
Once brought back to life, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately staying in the hospital for 101 days and suffered severe brain damage.
Mother Ty Turner believes the bullying began when she started wearing her natural hair to school and despite multiple efforts, the school took no action
After months of relentless bullying, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing suicide on March 11, 2023. Five days later, she was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home.
According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her
'We're 18 months plus out. Kelaia has no control currently over her body. She's total care, nonverbal, on a trach, on a feeding tube.
'She requires around the clock care that, for the most part, is administered by her father and I, we've recently gotten the help of a nurse three days a week. It's an absolute mountain,' Ty explained.
In a GoFundMe launched Schine't Turner this year, the distressed mother said the family has been struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress.
The crowdfunding page has raised $2,930 out of its $15,000 goal as of now.
A previous fundraiser launched by Tracey Graham crowdfunded $7,000 for the young girl.
Since the filing, school officials have vehemently denied all allegations of ignorance and negligence.
Once brought back to life, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately staying in the hospital for 101 days and suffered severe brain damage
In a GoFundMe launched Schine't Turner this year, the distressed mother said the family has been struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress
The crowdfunding page has raised $2,930 out of its $15,000 goal as of now.
Since the filing, school officials have vehemently denied all allegations of ignorance and negligence
In a statement, a spokesperson for Greenville County Schools said: 'The District is aware of the allegations made by this parent and has addressed them directly with the parent.
'We disagree with these allegations and have conducted a thorough investigation and review of each allegation at the time they were made. While we do not agree with the allegations, our hearts go out to Kelaia Tecora Turner, her mother, and their family.
'Every school implements anti-bullying strategies and programs for students, including how to recognize bullying and how to report it.
'When a school is aware of possible bullying, those concerns are investigated promptly, thoroughly, and confidentially. Steps are taken to determine what occurred, and if any inappropriate conduct occurred, then disciplinary measures are provided to the offending student and strategies designed to prevent any similar conduct are implemented as well. If the alleged conduct is possibly criminal in nature, law enforcement is notified.'
