Sammy Teusch passed away after being bullied in school. Credit: GoFundMe
The parents of a 10-year-old Indiana boy who died by suicide have revealed the heartbreaking bullying their son allegedly endured before his tragic death.
Sammy Teusch, 10, was found dead on May 5, 2024—just hours after bullies allegedly threatened to “get him” once school resumed, WRTV reported.
His 13-year-old brother, Xander, discovered him hanging from his bunk bed around 11:30AM.
Now, Sammy’s parents, Sam and Nicole Teusch, are suing the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation and its Board of Trustees. The wrongful death lawsuit accuses them of ignoring repeated complaints about the bullying Sammy endured.
The lawsuit alleges Greenfield-Central school officials showed “callous indifference” by ignoring repeated reports of bullying targeting Sammy Teusch.
According to the complaint, staff were told multiple times that Sammy, starting as early as third grade, was being bullied—yet failed to act. The abuse included classmates calling him “Dahmer,” referencing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, supposedly due to his appearance. When told, a teacher allegedly responded by saying Sammy did “somewhat resemble” Dahmer.
The bullying escalated in fourth grade at Greenfield Intermediate School. Sammy was reportedly chased, hid in bathroom stalls, and suffered physical assaults—including one where a student struck him with an iPad, leaving visible injuries.
Despite signs of distress—like acting out in class, which his parents saw as a cry for help—Sammy was punished rather than protected. One principal let him eat lunch in their office, but it’s unclear if any bullies faced consequences.
The lawsuit claims that these failures directly led to Sammy’s death by suicide on May 5, 2024.
Despite the Teusch family’s roughly 20 bullying reports to school staff, the harassment reportedly continued unchecked.
The lawsuit accuses Greenfield-Central schools of ignoring the danger. It alleges the district showed “callous disregard for Sammy’s safety,” quoting Sammy as telling his father, “They don’t listen to me, Daddy.”
The suit also claims administrators engaged in “victim shaming and victim blaming,” labeling the issue a “Sammy problem” tied to his supposed “mental problems.”
In response, the school district released a prior statement, expressing grief but denying wrongdoing:
“We have found nothing to validate the allegation you referenced,” the district said, adding they reviewed records and interviewed those involved.
“We believe an objective review would reach the same conclusion.”
They reaffirmed a general commitment to student support but did not address specific claims from the lawsuit.
Local authorities confirmed that bullying occurred before Sammy’s tragic death and have opened an investigation.
Sammy’s father, Sam Teusch, told PEOPLE that the loss left a wound that “can’t be fixed.” But he added, “So I have to create something to fix it for others.”
In response, he launched a petition urging Congress to pass nationwide anti-bullying laws. The effort has gained over 38,128 signatures so far.
Despite his heartbreak, Sam acknowledged how hard it is to hold on to hope:
“This is never, ever, ever, ever going to be positive. Never.
There is no positive out of this unless we make it.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for help.
