In a heartbreaking case that has drawn national attention, a lawsuit has been filed against the Greenville County School District in South Carolina on behalf of Kelaia Turner, a 12-year-old girl who tragically attempted to take her own life after enduring relentless bullying for over a year. Kelaia, now 14, was subjected to both physical and verbal abuse by five peers at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School, with her family claiming that school officials failed to intervene despite multiple reports of the harassment. The lawsuit highlights a particularly egregious incident where, after Kelaia was left in a coma following her suicide attempt, one of her bullies sneaked into the ICU and took mocking photos of her, posting them on social media.
Kelaia’s mother, Ty Turner, seeks justice for her daughter and holds the school district accountable for allegedly allowing the bullying to continue unchecked. The emotional toll of the situation is compounded by the assertion that the bullying began in 2021 when Kelaia chose to wear her natural hair to school. The lawsuit alleges that she was cruelly nicknamed “roach” and faced derogatory comments about her appearance, including remarks suggesting she looked “like a man.” Disturbingly, the harassment extended even to Kelaia’s teachers; one allegedly joined the bullies in their mockery, asking, “Where’s the roach?” when Kelaia’s name came up. The inclusion of an authority figure in the taunting only exacerbated Kelaia’s suffering and sense of isolation.
The situation deteriorated further in 2022, when after a physical altercation between Kelaia and one of her tormentors, school officials opted to suspend Kelaia instead of holding the bully accountable. This lack of appropriate disciplinary action from the school appears to have sent a message that Kelaia was not valued or protected within the educational environment. Compounding the stress, on May 23, 2022, Kelaia faced additional harassment when classmates played a racist YouTube video in class, which was allowed by teacher John Teer without any intervention. These incidents are presented in the lawsuit as part of a systematic failure by the school to address and curb the bullying behavior directed at Kelaia.
The daily torment Kelaia endured culminated in a tragic suicide attempt on March 17, 2023, when she used a belt to hang herself in her bedroom. Her mother described the horrifying moment of finding her daughter cold and unresponsive, recalling the dire physical consequences of Kelaia’s actions, including severe brain damage. After being revived, Kelaia was left in a coma for several weeks, and the family now faces the reality of long-term medical care needs. The family’s lawsuit seeks damages to cover the extensive medical costs, lost wages of her parents who cared for her, psychological expenses, and compensation for the emotional trauma Kelaia has endured.
Despite the severity of the allegations and the emotional weight of the situation, Greenville County Schools has denied wrongdoing. The district asserts that appropriate measures are taken to address bullying incidents and claims that a thorough investigation into the allegations was conducted. In response to the public outcry, officials expressed their sympathies to Kelaia and her family but stood firm against the lawsuit’s assertions concerning negligence. The school district’s response has sparked further debate about the effectiveness of existing anti-bullying policies and the overall responsibility of educational institutions to ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
The case highlights a critical issue in schools nationwide: the impact of bullying and the responsibility of school districts to address it adequately. Parents, educators, and advocates worry that this tragic situation may not be an isolated incident but rather indicative of a broader systemic issue within the educational system concerning how bullying and harassment are handled. In the wake of Kelaia’s experience, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist in the financial burden her family faces, helping raise over $15,000, reflecting a community’s desire to support the Turners during this trying time. Through this painful journey, Kelaia’s family hopes to raise awareness about the consequences of bullying and push for reforms that protect children in schools.
