The Teusch family of Greenfield, Indiana woke up earlier this month with a mound of flowers encircling the small tree in their front yard. Beneath a new cluster of wind chimes, was also a fireman’s hat, cards of sympathy and a Spiderman balloon.
All were gifts left by neighbors and strangers who came to offer what support they could to Sammy Teusch’s parents, Sam and Nichole Teusch.
Sammy, just 10 years old, was a fourth grader at Greenfield Intermediate School when he committed suicide at home after suffering from relentless bullying at school.
Sammy was bullied so severely on May 4th that he ended up ending his life the next day on May 5th.
His parents say he was both physically and emotionally bullied at school, with Sammy being recently beaten up on a school bus.
Teachers and school staff ignored his family’s pleas to stop the bullying over the last year after his parents reported incidents of bullying over 20 times, they claim.
According to the family, the school failed to take action to stop the repeated abuse.
His devastated father told local media outlet 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.
He was beat up on the school bus, and the kids broke his glasses and everything.
I called the school, and I’m like, ‘What are you doing about this? It keeps getting worse, and worse, and worse. And it’s not getting any better. In fact, it’s getting worse.”
His father also revealed the moment he found his son’s lifeless body.
“I held him in my arms. I did the thing no father should ever have to do, and anytime I close my eyes, it’s all I can see.”
Greenfield-Central Community School has released a statement saying the district is investigating the death, along with the Greenfield Police Department.
“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,” the statement said.
“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,” the district said.
“While the investigation continues, we are primarily focusing our resources on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central Schools,” the statement concluded.
Greenfield police also issued a statement, saying Sammy’s death was under investigation.
Besides his parents, Sammy’s obituary noted he was also survived by “his siblings, Tyler Mills, Trever Teusch (Rebekah), Nicholas Toebes (Brooke), Matthew Toebes, Makenzie Teusch, Oliver Teusch, Xander Teusch and Scarlett Teusch; his grandparents, Dallas, Cynthia Teusch, Vickie, Fred Blackburn, David Hinkle and Jerry Pohlman; his great-grandparent Shirley Sills…and his pet Timmy…
Visitation was held on Tuesday, May 14th 2024 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Brandywine Community Church (1551 E New Rd, Greenfield, IN 46140). A funeral service was held on Wednesday, May 15th 2024 at 10:00 AM at the same location.
Memorial contributions may be made to STOMP Out Bullying, https://www.stompoutbullying.org. Keep Sammy’s legacy alive by donating to a charity in need.
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Clever Journeys 
The adults have to start acting in authority, like adults. Reversal has to happen. When I applied to be a substitute teacher and they were training me, rule number one was, “The kid is always right.” No adult’s word was believed over a child’s. If the kid says you did it, you did it. So, the school would not go take authority in the school over the bullies, for fear of accusations by the kids. If they were accused of hurting or speaking harshly, to a child, it would go on the adult’s record, and perhaps further. And the kids know it. That is why no one did anything.
So, after hearing all this, and being warned by another substitute teacher of the pitfalls, I decided not to take the job.
That poor little boy; no one would take action, so he did. He’s in Heaven. And the parents, my God, the regret and grief.
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As a private investigator years ago I had to search & document child abuse. I have a soft place in my heart for this.
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That poor little lad…and his poor parents – while the school covers its back.
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When it was too late, there was an outpouring of support for the parents. Children need correction as much as they need pats on the back. Siblings, of which this child of God had many, should be able to have their brother’s back without worrying about expulsion because “they were involved.” You can’t always avoid or turn away from a bully. God bless Sammy.
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The non-action of the school staff is unacceptable and despicable. Those that ignored the problem should be terminated or held responsible. At school, who else did the boy have to protect him? School children these days can be horrid little vermin, likely learned from their home life. We see it daily on X, or Tiktok, or any one of the social sites. Now it’s turned racist with gangs of black girls attacking white girls and almost killing them. This boy was abandoned. How to stop this? I don’t know a way, but getting rid of TikTok and some of the other social media sites would be a good start, and holding teachers and admin responsible for bullying in the schools. As a child, in grade school, if one student bullied another, the other students stepped in and swinging fist were involved, as well as intervention from a concerned teacher. Not today..it’s a degraded society we now live in. Good reporting, Jack.
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We would form a circle around the fighters if a bully was finally getting his ass kicked. If a teacher, coach or school staff approached, we would scatter, holler & act like we were trying to catch a lizard.
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Ha! Ditto, here. Kids tended to take care of their own. I saw, and participated, many times.
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If I didn’t defend myself by throwing the 1st punch at threatening bully, my father (a policeman) told me I would get a spanking when I came home. Never got one of those spankings.
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thank you Jack for keeping the children in the spotlight.
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This story saddens me. Getting bullied for wearing glasses is weird to me. Many children have vision problems in grade school. The teachers should have addressed it. And teeth? They all have big permanent teeth coming in. We are living in a different world than when my kids were in school. He looks like a cute, normal young lad with beautiful blond hair. Maybe they were jealous of him. Deepest sympathy goes out to his family.
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How tragic. What is a solution? Maybe a good martial arts training for the vulnerable kids especially for those who are smaller. Nothing says back off to a bully better than a black belt in a martial art. It will also teach self discipline, confidence and physical fitness.
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Back in the 1990s, bullying was a problem, and it has only gotten worse. Teachers and administrators just ignore it.
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