South Carolina bullies who pushed a 12-year-old girl to attempt suicide wound up visiting her in the ICU to take photos of the preteen that they then circulated on social media, a newly-filed lawsuit claims.
Kelaia Turner was allegedly physically and verbally assaulted by peers who branded her 'roach' and 'moustache face' at the Dr. Phinnize J Fisher Middle School in Greenville County, her parents claim in a 24-page federal lawsuit against school district officials for ignorance.
Her mother, Ty Turner, has said she believes the bullying began when Kelaia started wearing her natural hair to school and escalated over the years. She claimed that instead of providing support and helping reduce incidents, teachers joined in on the torture.
"Ms. Bennett was complicit in the bullying and said nothing to the other students to stop it," the suit says. "One student asked, 'Where's the roach?' and Ms. Bennett pointed to [Kelaia]."
The bullying eventually became so bad that Kelaia was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home, and was dead for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her. She was then left in a coma for weeks, and wound up staying in the hospital for 101 days when the alleged bullies snuck in and took photos of her.
Kelaia then suffered severe brain damage, and has been left with no control over her body - instead relying on a tracheostomy tube to breathe and a feeding tube.
"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," Ty recalled.
"He said, 'I found a pulse. It's very, very faint, but I found one.' Kelaia is a miracle."
The family now says nine individual teachers and faculty members failed in their duties to "provide a culture of safety and an environment free from assault." The suit also cites violations of both the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX protections against gender discrimination.
An online fundraiser notes that the family has been struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress.
"We are fighting for Kelaia's healing and well-being everyday," says their GoFundMe page. "We are asking for your support to help her not only survive but thrive - through donations for a wheelchair-accessible van."
Response from School District Officials
"The District is aware of these allegations made by this parent... We disagree with these allegations... While we do not agree with them our hearts go out to Kelaia Tecora Turner," stated Greenville County Schools spokesperson.