A heartbreaking incident occurred in South Carolina, where a 14-year-old girl named Kelaia Turner tragically took her own life due to relentless bullying she endured from fellow middle school students. Shockingly, the same bullies who tormented her visited Turner at the ICU and callously took pictures of her. Although she survived the suicide attempt, it left her with devastating brain damage.
At Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School, Kelaia Turner endured numerous severe bullying situations. Other kids repeatedly mocked Turner, calling her “roach” or “mustache face.” Teachers also joined in the bullying, adding to Turner’s humiliation.
Ty Turner, the mother of Kelaia, expressed her disappointment with the school’s lack of intervention in the bullying situation. In an interview with WYFF4, Ty revealed that she had personally contacted the school on numerous occasions, providing evidence of her attempts through email correspondence. However, the school’s response was far from satisfactory. Ty stated, “Half the time they didn’t respond back, and if they did, it wasn’t with any meaningful assistance or resolution.”
Kelaia’s tormentors persisted, driving her to take her own life in her bedroom on March 17, 2023. When Ty stumbled upon the heartbreaking sight, she was overcome with horror. “She felt cold, blood streamed from her nose, and she had even soiled herself,” Ty recalled. “She was resolute in her decision, having been lifeless for a full eight minutes. The paramedics couldn’t detect a pulse or hear her heartbeat.”
An Outrageous Mockery
Kelaia died for roughly 8 minutes, suffered serious brain damage, and was in a coma for weeks. Kelaia’s bullies paid her a visit in the intensive care unit around this time. They took photographs and then uploaded images of Turnery in the intensive care unit, mocking her in a ridiculous manner.
Mocking a young girl who, at the age of 14, tried to take her own life is an act that surpasses even the most disturbed and twisted imagination. Ty Turner, speaking on the matter, acknowledged the power of words and their ability to cause lasting harm. He stated, “Unfortunately, words do hurt. They used to teach us, ‘Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.’ But the truth is, words are something that we carry with us throughout our lives.”
Ty is currently seeking justice on behalf of her daughter and has filed a lawsuit against the district. Her main goal is to obtain compensation to cover Kelaia’s various expenses, including medical bills and special education. In addition to taking legal action, Schine’t Turner has also initiated a GoFundMe campaign to rally support for Kelaia Turner and her family.
The school district promptly responded to the allegations made by the Turney family, denying their claims. In their official statement, the district acknowledged the concerns raised by the parent and addressed them directly. They further stated that thorough investigations were conducted into the allegations when they were first brought forward. Despite not agreeing with the allegations, the district expressed empathy towards Kelaia Tecora Turner, her mother, and their family.
