Girl, 12, was dead for eight agonizing minutes after trying to hang herself. Now family is suing her school

The family of a South Carolina girl who attempted suicide after brutal bullying is now suing her school for ignorance.

Kelaia Turner went to Dr. for two years. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville County – at ages 11 and 12.

During that time, the young girl was allegedly physically abused by peers and branded a “cockroach” and “man,” according to the 24-page lawsuit filed by the family.

Mother Ty Turner believes the bullying started when she started wearing her natural hair to school and despite multiple attempts, the school took no action.

“There were no fewer than seven to nine times where I personally contacted the school, and I had the emails, and half the time they didn’t respond, and if they did, it was about nothing. there was never a solution for any livelihood,” she said sadly WYFF.

Ty also alleged that instead of providing support and helping to reduce incidents, teachers participated in the torture.

“All of Kelaia’s names were shouted in front of a teacher or faculty and staff members without any consequences.

“According to the Greenville County schools she attended, there is NO TOLERANCE against bullying, except that there wasn’t. Some teachers were even complicit,” she said on Facebook after.

After months of relentless bullying, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing suicide on March 11, 2023.

Five days later she was found hanging from a leash in her bedroom at home.

According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for eight minutes before paramedics were able to revive her.

‘She felt cool, there was blood coming from her nose and she had already peed on herself. She was completely committed to what she was trying to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes.

“Paramedics couldn’t find a pulse, nor could they find her pulse. There were grown men in the room crying,” Ty recalled.

But the seriously religious mother continued to pray and after a few minutes a paramedic noticed a weak pulse.

‘He said, ‘I found a pulse. It’s very, very faint, but I found one. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I’d say he should keep doing it.’ Kelaia is a miracle.”

Once revived, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately spending 101 days in the hospital and suffering severe brain damage.

Mom Ty Turner believes the bullying started when she started wearing her natural hair to school and despite multiple attempts, the school took no action

After months of relentless bullying, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing suicide on March 11, 2023. Five days later she was found hanging from a leash in her bedroom at home.

According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for eight minutes before paramedics were able to revive her

‘We’re out for eighteen months plus. Kelaia currently has no control over her body. She is in total care, non-verbal, on a trach, on a feeding tube.

‘She needs 24-hour care, most of which is provided by her father and me. We recently have the help of a nurse three days a week. It’s an absolute mountain,” Ty explained.

In a Schine’t Turner GoFundMe launched this year, the distressed mother said the family is struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress.

The crowdfunding page has raised $2,930 out of its $15,000 goal as of now.

A previous one fundraising launched by Tracey Graham crowdfunding $7,000 for the young girl.

Since the filing, school officials have strongly denied all allegations of ignorance and negligence.

Once revived, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately spending 101 days in the hospital and suffering severe brain damage.

In a Schine’t Turner GoFundMe launched this year, the distressed mother said the family is struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress.

As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $2,930 of its $15,000 goal.

Since the filing, school officials have strongly denied all allegations of ignorance and negligence

In a statement, a spokesperson for Greenville County Schools said, “The district is aware of this parent’s allegations and has discussed them directly with the parent.

“We disagree with these allegations and have thoroughly investigated and assessed each allegation at the time it was made. While we disagree with the allegations, our thoughts go out to Kelaia Tecora Turner, her mother and their family.

‘Every school implements anti-bullying strategies and programs for students, including how to recognize bullying and how to report it.

‘When a school becomes aware of possible bullying, these concerns are investigated promptly, thoroughly and confidentially. Steps are taken to determine what happened, and if inappropriate behavior has occurred, disciplinary action will be taken against the offending student as well as strategies designed to prevent similar behavior will be implemented. If the alleged conduct is potentially criminal in nature, the police will be notified.”