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Chatsworth Police investigating bullying allegations after student's suicide
The Chatsworth Police Department is investigating the suicide of a Murray County High School student whose parents say he took his life because he was distraught over being bullied at school.
Bullying as it applies to students in public schools is defined under state law as “ (1) Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so; or (2) Any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm.”
Tyler Long, 17, committed suicide on Oct. 17. His parents say the school system is to blame because they did not adequately address their repeated complaints over several years nor keep the bullies at bay.
His mother, Tina Long, said Tyler had Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism in which the person has difficulty dealing with social situations. For example, family and friends say Tyler often didn’t understand when someone was angry with him, and he did not understand certain figures of speech.
The parents say they met with multiple teachers, principals and assistant principals several times each year since middle school to complain about instances of bullying, but nothing was done about it.
School system administrative services director Dean Donehoo said that under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act school officials can’t comment on a specific student. He said the school isn’t conducting its own investigation.
“I can’t imagine the tragedy this family has gone through, and certainly the hearts of the school system go out to them,” Donehoo said. “But I just cannot discuss the facts regarding any individual student.”
Donehoo said the school system is cooperating with the police department investigation, but he would not comment further.
The Longs said they will continue to fight for justice for their son and are leaving all their options open, including legal action.
Murray County Schools policy provides for placing bullies in an alternative school after the third offense, but the Longs say they’ve struggled to get school officials to address even the first offense. They say the problems began in fifth grade when a child stuffed a sock in Tyler’s mouth and received no punishment.
The problems continued through middle school and high school, his parents say, as various students would hit him, spit in his food, douse his meals in salt, call him names, snatch away things he was holding and otherwise ridicule him.
Taking their children —there are a brother and sister — out of the school system would have meant the school system won, so it was never an option, his parents said.
“I’ve thought about it,” Tina Long said. “But why are they not entitled to get an education here? That’s where we live ... If I just walk away, then I’m letting these kids down, and I’m letting Tyler down.”
Last year, the Longs said they pressed charges against two students who were hitting and pushing him. One boy was a juvenile, and they never learned the outcome of the case, Tina Long said. The other appeared genuinely sorry, so they did not push the matter further, she said.
David Long said Tyler never fought back because he was afraid he would get in trouble and because it wasn’t in his nature to do so.
A 2009 MCHS graduate who knew Tyler but asked not to be named said one person was taunting him in class the week he died.
According to Tyler’s friend, the person said, “The world would be better off without a retard like you. Why don’t you just go home and kill yourself?”
Another 2009 graduate, who also asked his name not be used, said most adults at the school were very lenient on bullies during his four years there. Many teachers played favorites, he said, and didn’t care about the welfare of the other students.
“Nine times out of 10, they won’t do a ---- thing about it,” he said. “I’m sure dozens, if not hundreds, of kids feel the exact same way (that Tyler felt).”
Contact the Longs
bullyinginmurraycountyschools@hotmail.com
(706) 847-1452
David and Tina Long want to hear from anyone with information that could help in the investigation of their son’s death. They say he committed suicide because he was being bullied at school.
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