A family residing in South Carolina has initiated legal action against Greenville County Schools, alleging that the institution failed to properly address bullying and harassment incidents involving their daughter, Kelaia Turner. This troubling situation has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the school’s anti-bullying measures and the overall safety of students.

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Understanding the Lawsuit Filed by Kelaia Turner’s Family After Her Tragic Suicide Attempt

According to PEOPLE, Kelaia Turner, who is now 14 years old, has suffered significant brain damage as a result of her experiences. Her parents have taken legal action against Greenville County Schools, claiming the school ignored the persistent bullying that Kelaia endured. After facing relentless harassment for over a year, Kelaia attempted to take her own life. On March 17, 2023, her mother, Ty Turner, discovered Kelaia, then just 12 years old, hanging from a belt, a moment that changed their lives forever, as reported by WYFF4.

“She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose, and she had already urinated on herself. She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes. Paramedics couldn’t find a pulse, and they couldn’t find her heartbeat. There were grown men in the room crying,” Turner said.

Following this harrowing incident, Kelaia was hospitalized for a staggering 101 days, including 31 days spent in the ICU. While she lay in a coma, a classmate allegedly took advantage of the situation by visiting her, taking inappropriate photos, and sharing them with others. According to the complaint filed by her mother, these images were subsequently circulated online, further exacerbating the rumors and distress surrounding Kelaia’s injuries, showcasing a disturbing culture of bullying that seemed to thrive even in her absence.

The 24-page lawsuit filed this summer by Kelaia Turner’s family details multiple instances where Kelaia reported being physically attacked by another student, who taunted her by calling her derogatory names such as “man” and “roach,” starting in 2021. The lawsuit emphasizes the failure of her teacher, Olivia Bennett, to take adequate action to halt the bullying and harassment Kelaia faced, raising significant concerns about the support provided to vulnerable students.

“Ms. Bennett was complicit in the bullying and said nothing to the other students to stop it. One student asked, ‘Where’s the roach?’ and Ms. Bennett pointed to Kelaia,” the complaint alleges, highlighting the troubling behavior of educators who are meant to protect students and foster a safe learning environment.

Kelaia’s mother, Ty, expressed her frustration, revealing that she reached out to the school on numerous occasions, pleading for assistance and intervention but received little to no response. Her attempts to advocate for her daughter were met with silence or insufficient responses, emphasizing a systemic failure to address bullying within the educational environment.

“There was no less than seven to nine times that I, myself personally, reached out to the school, and I had the emails, and half the time they didn’t respond back, and if they did, it wasn’t with anything of any sustenance, there was never any resolution,” Ty explained.

Official Response from Greenville County Schools Regarding Bullying Allegations

On December 4, Greenville County Schools spokesman Tim Waller expressed deep sympathy for Kelaia Turner and her family in a statement provided to PEOPLE. However, he firmly disagreed with the allegations put forth by Kelaia’s parents, indicating a clear divide between the family’s claims and the school’s position.

“The District is aware of the allegations made by this parent and has addressed them directly with the parent. We disagree with these allegations and have conducted a thorough investigation and review of each allegation at the time they were made. While we do not agree with the allegations, our hearts 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.”

The New York Post reported that Waller also noted that the school is currently undertaking an investigation into the claims and that staff members are actively working to address bullying incidents with appropriate measures and strategies.

“When a school is aware of possible bullying, those concerns are investigated promptly, thoroughly, and confidentially. Steps are taken to determine what occurred, and if any inappropriate conduct occurred, then disciplinary measures are provided to the offending student and strategies designed to prevent any similar conduct are implemented as well. If the alleged conduct is possibly criminal in nature, law enforcement is notified,” Waller stated, emphasizing the district’s commitment to student safety.

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