One Year After Son’s Suicide, Indiana Father Demands Accountability from School Over Bullying

A year after losing his 10-year-old son to suicide, Indiana father Samuel Teusch is still searching for answers—and accountability. His son, Sammy, died after enduring relentless bullying at school, and Teusch says the educators who failed to protect him have yet to face any consequences.

“It’s disgusting and devastating,” Teusch told The Daily Mail, reflecting on the pain of losing his son and the inaction that led to it. “There’s been no accountability.”

The tragedy reached a tipping point on May 4, 2024, just one day before Sammy took his own life. While leaving his brother’s soccer game, Sammy quietly pointed to a boy on the field and said to his parents, “That’s him.” According to his father, that boy was one of several classmates who had bullied Sammy—just a week earlier, that same child had pushed him into a trash can while others laughed.

The bullying had started with cruel comments about Sammy’s appearance—his glasses, his teeth—but escalated into physical abuse. Hoping to boost his confidence and stop the ridicule, his family bought him a new pair of glasses, spending $525 in the process. But the bullying didn’t stop.

Ignored and Dismissed

The family repeatedly reached out to Greenfield Elementary School, pleading for help, but nothing changed. Sammy reportedly told his teachers about the bullying, but his pleas went unanswered.

Months earlier, Sammy had been hit on the school bus—an incident where, instead of receiving help, he was disciplined. “Daddy, it’s okay,” he told his father. “They don’t care. They’re not listening to me.”

“They said they had a no-bullying policy, that they were doing everything in their power,” Teusch said. “But it never stopped.”

Speaking to People, Teusch described a heartbreaking disconnect. “I’d talk to the school. They’d say, ‘Sammy’s a discipline problem.’ And I’m like, ‘What? He’s hiding under desks, hiding in closets, hiding in bathrooms. What do you think he’s hiding from?’”

His Final Day

The day after the soccer game—Sunday morning—Sammy was found cuddling in bed with his mother. It would be the last time his family would see him alive.

Now, one year later, his father is speaking out to raise awareness and demand justice. He hopes no other family has to go through what his did.

“This should never have happened,” Teusch said. “Sammy deserved to feel safe. He deserved to be heard.”