New Details About The Awful Bullying 13-Year-Old Rosalie Avila Endured Prior To Her Suicide — And Why Her Parents Are Suing The School District
They are suing for wrongful death.
Fox LA Rosalie Avila committed suicide in November after years of being bullied. Her parents are suing the school district over her death.
The 13-year-old girl was found hanging in her room on Nov. 28 and died Dec. 4 when her parents took her off life support.
Her parents, Freddie and Charlene Avila, announced they intend to file a lawsuit against the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District at a press conference on Dec. 18. The family of the middle schooler is planning to sue the district for wrongful death due to the lack of response to the reports Rosalie was being severely bullied.
Her family claims that the middle school she attended, Mesa View Middle School, was made aware of the bullying but did nothing to protect Rosalie.
"We so disappointed and angry at how the school has handled things ya know, with the kids,” Rosalie’s father said. "The way it happened to her, the way it happened to so many other kids…now is the time to act, now."
The bullying the poor girl endured was horrible.
A video created by her classmates allegedly went around the school showed “what an ugly girl looked like and what a pretty girl looked like and used a picture of Rosalie to portray the ugly girl," according to a news release from last week announcing the press conference. It also stated the bullies said "she had ugly teeth, that she was ugly, a whore, a slut, and had sexually transmitted diseases.”
Pages from Rosalie’s diary, which her parents gave to police, contained awful entries about the bullying Rosalie was subjected to. It read things like, “They told me I was ugly today,” and “they were making fun of me today about my teeth.”
My daughter had the whole world," her father, Freddie Avila-Olague said in tears. "Now, I just have to think about what she could have done or what she could have become. Now it's just a memory."
The note left by Rosalie said she was sorry and to not display a photo of her at her funeral according to CBS News.
"The fact that this little girl would be so verbally abused at a school to a point where she writes a suicide note to her parents saying she doesn't even feel worthy of a picture at her funeral speaks volumes," the family’s lawyer Brian Claypool said.
The family is trying to change the way schools handle bullying claims. Claypool said they want to make it so schools must keep records of bullying claims and can be held accountable if the bullying is not stopped.
"I brought her into this life and all I can think is someone ripping her from my arms, just taking her, that's how I feel, like they took her from me," Charlene Avila said. "We're gonna make a difference in her name."
The Yucaipa-Calimesa School District released a statement that said, “We strive every day to be a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment. We will continue to raise awareness and work with students and the community to support our children.”
But the Avila family doesn't think the school district did enough and will not stop until schools make a change in how bullying is handled.
To make matters worse, the parents of Rosalie claim they are being bullied now as they mourn the loss of their daughter.
The received a message on social media that said, "Hey mom. Next time don't tuck me in this," showing a bed. It then says, "Tuck me in THIS," referencing an open grave.
According to KTLA, another post on social media said, "Rosie is still annoying me from the grave."
"I did everything I'm supposed to do as a father, and these people did not respond because those bullies are still at the school," Freddie said. "They're still there, and my daughter's gone."
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 provides people in distress, or those around them, with 24-hour support. The Crisis Text Line allows people to text 741-741 to connect with crisis counselors.