Solemn footage captured the funeral of a 10-year-old who was bullied into suicide, as his wake was lined by hundreds of motorbikes escorting his tiny coffin.
Mourners gathered Tuesday in Greenfield, Indiana for the funeral of Sammy Teusch, who tragically committed suicide on May 5 after years of bullying.
Grief-stricken classmates and friends of his family were seen crying as Sammy’s casket was taken from a ceremony to his final resting place, Brandywine Church Cemetery.
Many attended the boy’s service without ever knowing him, but were moved by Sammy’s story after his parents told of their heartbreak.
“He was my little boy. He was my baby. He was the youngest,” said his stricken mother Nichole WHTas his father Sam said, the bullies targeted his son because of his appearance.
Solemn footage captured the moment hundreds of motorcycles rode side by side as they paid their respects during the funeral of Sammy Teusch, 10, in Greenfield, Indiana on Tuesday
Sammy Teusch, 10, tragically committed suicide on May 5 after years of abuse
In heartbreaking footage from Sammy’s funeral, his parents were seen crying by his coffin as mourners shuffled past.
In heartbreaking footage from Sammy’s funeral, his parents can be seen crying by his coffin as mourners shuffle past.
A service was also 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.
A candlelight vigil is also planned for Friday in Greenfield as the small town reels from Sammy’s tragic suicide.
Sammy’s motorcycle escort was organized by Iron Sharpens Iron Motorcycle Ministry,
His parents Sam and Nichole said he was bullied both physically and emotionally at his school and was tormented daily until the night he died.
They said the bullying started last year when he was in elementary school, and followed him to Greenfield Intermediate School.
The harassment escalated to a recent incident on a school bus in which he was beaten. Sammy’s parents claimed they told teachers and school staff about the bullying 20 times, but no action was taken.
His father Sam told him WHT: ‘At first they made fun of him because of his glasses, then because of his teeth. It took a long time.’
‘I held him in my arms. I did what no father should ever do, and every time I close my eyes, it’s all I can see.”
Mourners gathered for Sammy’s funeral on Tuesday morning, with many not knowing the boy but moved by his tragic story
Sammy’s parents Nichole and Sam said their son was bullied because of his glasses and then because of his teeth
His parents Sam and Nichole say he was bullied both physically and emotionally at school, with Sammy recently beaten up on a school bus
According to the family, they contacted their son’s school twenty times about the bullying
The abuse then turned physical, Sam added: “He got beat up on the school bus and the kids broke his glasses and stuff.
‘I called the school and I was like, ‘What are you doing about this? It keeps getting worse, and worse, and worse. And it doesn’t get any better. In fact, it’s getting worse.’
Speak with 21alive‘, his grandmother Cynthia said: ‘They can’t just say they have zero tolerance, because that doesn’t mean there is zero tolerance towards bullies.
‘Their zero tolerance means they have no responsibility for it. People trust their children to the school, but now that trust is shaking.’
Dr. Harold Olin was contacted by the outlet for an interview and said he was unavailable, but claimed the family never filed a bullying report.
Olin added that school administrators had conversations with the family throughout the year, but would not share the content of those conversations.
Sam added: ‘[The school] knew this was going on,” with the bullying moving from the school and the bus to social media platforms like Snapchat.
His mother Nichole said: “He was my little boy. He was my baby. He was the youngest.’
His grandmother Cynthia says people’s trust in schools is being shaken
Sammy’s heartbroken family said he was bullied daily until the night he died
The bullying had started last year when he was in primary school and followed him to Greenfield Intermediate School
Dr. Harold Olin, left, was contacted by the outlet for an interview and said he was unavailable. Bronson Curtis, right,
Greenfield-Central Community School said in a statement: “The death of Samuel Teusch is tragic and has left our school corporation and the greater community in tremendous sadness. Our thoughts go out to the family at this time.
“Sammy has been studying at Greenfield-Central for the past year and a half. He completed his third grade at Weston Elementary School in May 2023, and he was a fourth grade student at Greenfield Intermediate School during the current 2023-2024 school year.
“We were notified of his death on Sunday afternoon and we sent 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 at Greenfield-Central has worked extensively with the Teusch family over the past eighteen months. There was frequent contact between school staff and parents.
“The parents have reported the manner of death as suicide and we are investigating their claims of bullying.
“While the investigation continues, we are focusing our resources primarily on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central Schools.”