GREENFIELD, IN — The parents of 10-year-old Sammy Teusch have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation, alleging that repeated pleas for help over ongoing bullying were ignored — with devastating consequences.
Sammy was found dead by his 13-year-old brother, Xander Teusch, on May 5, 2024, just hours after he was allegedly threatened by classmates who told him they would “get him” when school resumed. The young boy was discovered hanging from his bunk bed at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to WRTV.
His parents, Sam and Nicole Teusch, are now seeking accountability through legal action. Their lawsuit claims school officials failed to intervene despite receiving numerous reports that Sammy had been relentlessly bullied over the years. According to the filing, educators and administrators “displayed callous indifference” to the abuse their son endured.
“As a direct and proximate result of the District’s and these individuals’ gross dereliction of arguably their most important duty, Sammy took his own life,” the legal document states.
The lawsuit traces the beginning of the bullying to Sammy’s third-grade year. According to his parents, classmates mocked his appearance and gave him the cruel nickname “Dahmer,” referring to notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. When the nickname was brought to a teacher’s attention, the lawsuit alleges the educator remarked that Sammy “somewhat resembled” Dahmer — a response that left the family stunned.
As Sammy’s behavior shifted — acting out and becoming increasingly withdrawn — his parents say it was a cry for help. Instead, they allege he was frequently punished for being disruptive in class.
Though one principal allowed Sammy to eat lunch privately in their office, the lawsuit contends it’s unclear whether any meaningful disciplinary action was ever taken against the students who tormented him. There is no record, according to the filing, that the bullies’ parents were ever informed.
Things reportedly escalated after Sammy transitioned to Greenfield Intermediate School for fourth grade. The harassment, his parents say, intensified. “He would often be chased through the school during breakfast, hiding in bathroom stalls and refusing to come out,” the lawsuit reads.
One particularly violent incident involved another student striking Sammy with an iPad, resulting in a black eye and injuries to his neck and shoulder. Despite at least 20 separate reports made to school staff, the lawsuit alleges the district failed to protect him.
The Teusch family says they repeatedly raised concerns to the school, only to be met with blame-shifting. Administrators allegedly dismissed the bullying as a “Sammy problem,” citing supposed “mental issues” rather than holding his peers accountable.
“This callous disregard for Sammy’s safety broke him,” the lawsuit reads. “He told his father, ‘They don’t listen to me, Daddy.’”
The family accuses the district of engaging in victim-blaming rather than implementing corrective action. In their view, the district not only failed to uphold its duty of care but created an environment that enabled abuse to flourish.
In response to the lawsuit, Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation referred media outlets to a previously released statement.
“The loss of a child to suicide is deflating to any community, and Greenfield was clearly in shock for a few weeks as we closed last school year,” the statement reads. “Members of the school corporation and the larger community grieved with the Teusch family, and we will continue to extend them support and grace in the aftermath of the event.”
The district added that after reviewing records and conducting internal interviews, they found “nothing to validate the allegations,” and maintained their commitment to student safety and support.
Local authorities have acknowledged that bullying was a contributing factor leading up to Sammy’s death and have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.
Community members, parents, and mental health advocates have rallied behind the Teusch family, calling for more transparency and accountability within school systems when it comes to bullying.
Still reeling from the unimaginable loss, Sammy’s father, Sam Teusch, has turned his grief into a call to action. In May, he launched a petition urging Congress to pass nationwide anti-bullying legislation. The petition has already garnered more than 38,000 signatures.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Sam described the pain of losing his son as “a wound that can’t be fixed,” but emphasized the importance of channeling that pain into change.
“This is never going to be positive. Ever,” he said. “But if we can prevent one more family from going through what we did, maybe there’s a reason to keep going.”