An 11-year-old Texas lady who killed herself after being bullied about her household’s immigration standing advised mates she was inappropriately touched by a member of the family, in line with surprising findings by her Texas college district.
Jocelyn Rojo Carranza was discovered unresponsive in her household’s Gainesville house on Feb. 3 and died within the hospital after 5 days of intensive care.
The little lady’s mom, Marbella Carranza, claimed her daughter was bullied by college students at Gainesville Intermediate Faculty. She mentioned they mocked her due to the household’s immigration standing and threatened to name Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Gainesville Impartial Faculty District launched an investigation and confirmed {that a} scholar on Carranza’s bus made feedback about ICE and deportation to a bunch of Hispanic college students and that the lady was in earshot, in line with the findings.
Carranza reported the incident to her principal on Jan. 30 after the subject of ICE got here up once more in school, the district mentioned. The district discovered that it was not the one time such an incident occurred and mentioned the scholar was disciplined.
After Carranza’s hospitalization the next week, college students got here ahead to highschool officers and mentioned that the lady and certainly one of her brothers had been the victims of bullying, which spurred the investigation.
Children additionally advised directors about Carranza’s disturbing claims of abuse, which she requested them to maintain a secret.
“It was reported by a number of college students that [Carranza] advised them that she had been inappropriately touched by a member of the family and wished to maintain this a secret to keep away from getting them in bother,” Superintendent DesMontes Stewart mentioned within the report.
The district reported the claims to Youngster Protecting Providers, and mentioned it’s investigating.
The district additionally discovered that the lady had beforehand expressed ideas of self-harm to her cousin, who allegedly knowledgeable Carranza’s mom, and that she advised a counselor in October about getting in bother at house and being referred to as names by her siblings.
The district mentioned it might have supplied sources if it knew about Carranza’s desirous to hurt herself and mentioned she participated in a social-emotional studying group, which her mom granted permission for her to attend.
Her mother, nevertheless, has maintained that she was saved at the hours of darkness about her younger daughter searching for counseling.
“Nothing about that’s true,” Carranza’s mom advised NBC affiliate KXAS-TV relating to the district’s findings, together with the abuse.
“I speak with my daughter about that, at all times … No one can contact your physique. No one,” she advised the outlet, including that she has employed a lawyer and was ready to answer the district.
“GISD has remained absolutely supportive of the household all through this tough time,” Stewart, the superintendent, mentioned in a press release.
“The district’s faculties, PTO teams, and employees donations have contributed 1000’s of {dollars}, in addition to present playing cards and meals to assist the household’s wants,” he added. “Moreover, I personally met with the mom and a member of the family to deal with any questions they’d relating to the investigation.”
Carranza’s funeral was held on Feb. 19.
She was survived by her dad and mom and 6 siblings and was remembered by her love of singing and dancing, in line with an obituary.
In case you are battling suicidal ideas or are experiencing a psychological well being disaster and reside in New York Metropolis, you may name 1-888-NYC-WELL at no cost and confidential disaster counseling. When you reside exterior the 5 boroughs, you may dial the 24/7 Nationwide Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
