Parents of 10-year-old boy who died by suicide claim Indiana school district is responsible in lawsuit

The parents of a 10-year-old boy who died by suicide earlier this year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fourth grader’s school district, Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation.

The suit — which also names the Greenfield school board as a defendant — claims that the district failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the child’s suicide and protect him from relentless and brutal bullying.

Sammy Teusch and his family moved to Greenfield in November 2022. Soon after starting school at Weston Elementary School as a third grader, Sammy was verbally bullied by his classmates, who called him “Dahmer” — a reference to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The lawsuit claims Sammy’s teacher ignored his reports of bullying.

While a fourth grader at Greenfield Intermediate School, Sammy was chased, choked, punched and stuffed into a garbage can, according to the complaint. His bullies made fun of his teeth, his glasses and his mother.

The lawsuit claims they also urged him to hang himself.

Sammy was found hanging from his bunk bed by his 13-year-old brother this past May.

The lawsuit claims that Sammy and his parents repeatedly reported the bullying to school staff, and that district personnel were aware that the boy was being verbally harassed and physically assaulted on a regular basis.

Harold Olin, superintendent of Greenfield-Central Schools, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The complaint also alleges that school staff told Sammy’s parents — Sam and Nicci Teusch — that he was an instigator and was being bullied for his “mental problems,” which his family said he did not have.

“What we’re doing, with this legal action, is coming from a place of love and protection for all of our kids, because they should all be able to go to school and learn in a safe environment,” Sam Teusch said in a press release. “No parent should have to sit at work and worry if their child is being bullied – or as in Sammy’s case, abused and assaulted – while they are in school all day. And no parent should ever have to find their child like Nicci and I did.”

The lawsuit states that hundreds of people attended Sammy’s funeral, including one of his bullies, referred to as “T.N.” The suit claims T.N. took pictures of Sammy in his open casket and was seen laughing at her phone.

Additionally, another student who allegedly bullied Sammy, referred to as “N.T.” in the complaint, acknowledged that he was responsible for the child’s suicide.

The Teusch family’s lawsuit seeks a jury trial, damages and legal costs.

Contact WFYI investigative education reporter Lee V. Gaines at lgaines@wfyi.org. You can follow her on Bluesky.