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Sammy Teusch bullies may face criminal charges as Indiana cops launch investigation into 10-year-old's shock suicide
Indiana police have launched an investigation into the shock suicide of ten-year-old boy who took his own life after years of bullying.
Sammy Teusch killed himself on May 5 after suffering years of brutal bullying that saw his classmates mock his teeth and glasses. He was laid to rest on Wednesday in Greenfield, Indiana.
His grief-stricken parents say they repeatedly complained to his school but were ignored.
In an email statement to DailyMail.com, Deputy Chief Charles McMichael of the Greenfield Police Department said Teusch's bullies could now face criminal charges.
He added: 'This case is still under investigation currently. As you can imagine, scheduling interviews with children takes time to work around school/sports and parents' schedules.
'We are also being considerate of the Teusch family, as the funeral was only Wednesday.'
Sammy Teusch killed himself on May 5 after suffering years of brutal bullying
In an email statement to DailyMail.com, Deputy Chief Charles McMichael of the Greenfield Police Department said that Teusch's bullies could face criminal charges (Pictured: Greenfield Intermediate School)
Pictured: A memorial dedicated to Sammy after his shock suicide
Deputy Chief McMichael said the Hancock County Coroner's Office has not completed its investigation into the official cause and manner of death.
He continued: 'The Greenfield Police Department considers all unattended death investigations a criminal investigation until the evidence and facts of the case prove otherwise.
'If probable cause is found, the case will be turned over to the Hancock County Prosecutors Office to determine if criminal charges should be filed with the court.
'Please also understand that if probable cause is found and any of the suspects would happen to be children, any information released related to criminal charges will be very minimal.'
The child's parents Sam and Nichole said he was subjected to both physical and emotional bullying at his school, and was being tormented daily up until the night he passed away.
They explained that the bullying started last year when he was in elementary school, and followed him to Greenfield Intermediate School.
His father Sam told local NBC affiliate WTHR: 'They were making fun of him for his glasses in the beginning, then on to make fun of his teeth. It went on for a long time.'
Sammy's parents Nichole and Sam said their son had been bullied for his glasses and teeth
The family said they contacted their son's school 20 times about the bullying
The boy's parents Sam and Nichole said he was both physically and emotionally bullied at school, and was recently beaten up on a school bus
The harassment allegedly escalated to a recent incident on a school bus where he was beaten up, and just last week he was cornered by bullies in the bathroom.
'I have his broken glasses sitting over there in a memorial shrine that my kids made,' his father told local CBS affiliate WTTV.
Although the family say they complained to the school about the bullying 20 times, Greenfield Community Schools superintendent Dr. Harold Olin told WTHR that no bullying report was ever submitted by the parents or by Sammy.
He added that school administrators and counselors had been in regular contact with the family, but declined to offer specifics of these discussions.
'They knew this was going on. They knew this was going on,' Sam told 21alive.
Sammy's family said the bullying occurred even when Sammy was at home via Snapchat, despite him having limited access to his phone.
''I'm going to beat you up. I'm going to beat you up when you get to school.' Saying mean things about his (mom), which would really, really set him off,' his father said.
Solemn footage captured the moment hundreds of motorcycles drove side by side as they paid respect at the funeral of Sammy Teusch, 10, in Greenfield, Indiana on Tuesday
In gut-wrenching images from Sammy's funeral, his parents were seen standing by his casket weeping while mourners shuffled past
Sammy's father Sam embraces a pastor at his son's funeral service, where a neighbor recalled the boy 'seemed to suck the darkness out of every corner in the room'
'I just want him to never be forgotten,' his father said.
'To put that little boy into words is just impossible. The people that got to know him are definitely blessed to have known him.'
His father said he held Sammy in his arms during his last moments.
'How could God take my kid from here? Of course that was going through my head. God didn't take my kid; hate did,' he said.
'I want his image to be a source of empowerment for children that feel like they can't come to somebody and speak.'
Brent Eaton, the Hancock County prosecutor, said there is a bullying epidemic happening across the country.
'The world is a lot different now than it was even 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago. It's very, very different,' he said told WTTV.
'There's a lot of negativity out there…. We didn't have text messages 20 years ago. We didn't have the ability to use social messaging 15 years ago. That's different.
Eaton said communication between students, staff, and parents is paramount to preventing similar situations from happening.
'If we have an environment where young people have a safe place, and they can go to someone with those concerns, and even if it may be difficult or embarrassing that they feel safe in letting people know they may be being harassed or bullied, that will help a lot. We want to start there and work together to do that,' he said.
Mourners fight tears as they bring Sammy's casket out of the church
In a eulogy from Sammy's funeral service, his neighbor said the 10-year-old seemed popular among the local kids and was often seen with 'the biggest grin on his face'
On Tuesday, Sammy's family was supported by hundreds of outraged parents and friends at their son's wake.
The funeral procession included a motorcade of over a hundred motorcyclists who all turned out in a show of support for the tragic child.
In gut-wrenching footage from Sammy's funeral, his parents were seen holding his casket and weeping while mourners shuffled past.
Sammy's motorcycle escort was hosted by Iron Sharpens Iron Motorcycle Ministry, who said they were 'honored' to take part.
Before he was laid to rest, a service was held in a nearby auditorium, where his loved ones shared fond memories of the boy and his family, and a pastor read a final prayer.
Neighbor Andrew McIntosh delivered the youngster's eulogy, and recalled how Sammy quickly befriended his son Judah after moving into the neighborhood.
'Right there in my hallway was a handsome little boy that I swear could have been pulled right out of an Andy Griffith episode or a Norman Rockwell painting,' he said, according to the Greenfield Reporter.
'I knew immediately that my son had made a good friend,' he said, adding that the 10-year-old seemed popular among the local kids and was often seen with 'the biggest grin on his face.'
'He just looked up at me sweating, those glasses that rose up on his cheeks over a smile that was way too big for his little face,' McIntosh said.
'But when he did smile, and I mean really smile, he just seemed to suck the darkness out of every corner in the room.'
Sammy's motorcycle escort was hosted by Iron Sharpens Iron Motorcycle Ministry, who said they were 'honored' to take part
His parents Sam and Nichole say he was both physically and emotionally bullied at school, with Sammy being recently beaten up on a school bus
A candlelight vigil is also planned for Friday in Greenfield, as the small town reels from Sammy's tragic suicide.
Speaking to 21alive, his grandmother Cynthia said: 'They can't just say they have zero tolerance because that doesn't mean there is zero tolerance about bullies.
'Their zero tolerance means that they don't have responsibility for it. People trust their kids to the school, but now that trust is breaking down.'
Greenfield-Central Community School said in a statement: 'The death of Samuel Teusch is tragic, and it has left our school corporation and larger community in tremendous grief. Our hearts pour out to the family at this time.
'Sammy was a student in Greenfield-Central for the last year and a half. He finished his 3rd grade year at Weston Elementary School in May of 2023, and he was a 4th grade student at Greenfield Intermediate School during the current 2023-24 school year.
School Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin, left, and principal Branson Curtis, right. The school says it is investigating the boy's death, but claimed the family didn't submit a bullying report
Sammy's heartbroken family said he was being bullied daily up until the night he passed away
'We were made aware of his death on Sunday afternoon, and we dispatched our crisis response team to both Greenfield Intermediate School and Greenfield Central Junior High School (where he has two siblings) to start the week.
'Our staff in Greenfield-Central has worked with the Teusch family quite a bit over the last 18 months. Contact between school personnel and the parents was frequent.
'The parents did report the manner of death as a suicide, and we are investigating their claims related to bullying.
'While the investigation continues, we are primarily focusing our resources on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central Schools.'