Bronx Teen Died By Suicide Hours After Sexual Assault

The mother and father of a Bronx excessive schooler who was bullied into performing intercourse acts on two boys at college then went residence the identical day and jumped off a roof are suing town and Division of Training.

In line with a lawsuit filed within the Bronx Supreme Court docket, Mya Vizcarrondo-Rios, 16, was laid low with bullies at college for 5 months earlier than she was sexually assaulted on the day of her demise. Within the go well with, her mother and father alleged college directors at Harry S. Truman Excessive Faculty repeatedly ignored the ninth-grader’s complaints and by no means knowledgeable them concerning the harassment, reported the New York Day by day Information.

On Feb. 28, 2018, police discovered Mya’s physique on the bottom exterior of the 34-floor condo constructing the place she lived.

Her father, Heriberto Rios, was residence when she jumped, however assumed she was nonetheless at college.

Rios later discovered within the moments earlier than she died by suicide that Mya was sexually assaulted whereas she and different college students have been left unsupervised within the auditorium for a efficiency. Mya was pressured to carry out oral intercourse on two boys and afterward, she was teased by different college students, the lawsuit states.

Earlier than the assault, Rios mentioned his daughter was repeatedly bullied for at the very least 5 months by classmates who made enjoyable of her physique, pulled her hair and bodily assaulted her.

The lawsuit additionally alleges when Mya advised a steerage counselor and the college’s principal, Keri Alfano, concerning the bullying, they despatched her again to class with out notifying her mother and father concerning the stories.

“[Mya] was ignored and easily despatched again to class with none intervention by the college,” the lawsuit mentioned.

When she was bullied, Mya began lacking class out of concern. When Rios confronted his daughter concerning the absences, she mentioned she was having bother in a number of courses.

“I requested what was happening,” Rios advised the Day by day Information. “She mentioned she was having bother, however she didn’t inform me she was being bullied. She didn’t inform me about this. I discovered after she handed. The college by no means advised me concerning the slicing [classes].”

Rios discovered this troublesome to consider since Mya beforehand had excellent attendance.

“She was an honor roll scholar,” Rios advised the Day by day Information. “She had so many plans. She wished to go to school.”

Though Mya’s mother and father have been referred to as into a gathering together with her counselor about her attendance, they have been by no means notified concerning the bullying.

Now Rios and Mya’s mom, Nelly Vizcarrondo, are suing town, the Training Division and faculty directors.

Shortly after Mya’s demise, one of many bully’s named within the lawsuit was transferred, and the steerage counselor named within the go well with was fired, the Day by day Information stories.

Mya’s mother and father and their legal professional consider her demise may have been prevented if the college took extra measure.

“The tragic circumstances surrounding my consumer’s demise may have been prevented,” John Scola, the household’s lawyer, advised the Day by day Information.

“We hope that this case will trigger the Division of Training to reevaluate their insurance policies and correctly prepare their workers on points associated to bullying in order that no scholar feels so hopeless they consider suicide is the reply. We hope that this case will stop helpless college students from taking their very own lives sooner or later.”

Training Division officers advised the Day by day Information town lately put $eight million into initiatives focusing on bullying, together with coaching and on-line sources.

“This was a tragic loss, and college students deserve secure and supportive college environments,” division spokesman Doug Cohen advised the information outlet. “We acknowledge the deep affect bullying can have, and colleges are required to right away examine and deal with any allegation. We’ll proceed to spend money on anti-bullying and secure colleges initiatives.”

A GoFundMe for Mya’s funeral companies have been began for Mya’s household.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *