A South Carolina family is suing Greenville County Schools for negligence and a failure to address bullying that left their 12-year-old daughter, Kelaia Turner, with severe brain damage after she attempted to end her life.
The lawsuit claims Kelaia endured relentless bullying at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School, where her classmates reportedly mocked her appearance and called her “roach” and “moustache face.”
Kelaia’s mother, Ty Turner has alleged that the harassment escalated when her daughter began wearing her natural hair to school.
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Teachers and administrators have also been accused of ignoring complaints and in some instances, even contributing to the bullying.
One of the teachers, identified as Olivia Bennett, allegedly pointed to Kelaia when a student asked, “Where’s the roach?”
The lawsuit also highlights incidents where some teachers reportedly allowed students to play offensive songs and failed to intervene when they bullied Kelaia.
Reports indicate that the harassment culminated in March 2023, when Kelaia was found hanging in her bedroom.
She was found without a pulse for eight minutes before being revived by paramedics and spent 101 days in the hospital, suffering severe brain damage which eventually made her lose control of her body.
For now, she relies on a tracheostomy tube to breathe and a feeding tube for food.
In addition to the trauma, the lawsuit claims Kelaia’s bullies paid her a visit in the ICU, took photos of her and then went on to share them on social media.
“She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose, and she had already urinated on herself,” Ty Turner recalled of the day her daughter attempted suicide. “She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do… Kelaia is a miracle.”
The Turners also allege that nine faculty members failed to create a safe environment for their daughter and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX protections against gender discrimination.
The family is now suing the school, seeking damages to cover medical bills, psychiatric expenses and life care costs after the bullies were allowed to make this happen.
Greenville County Schools have however denied these allegations. The district said in a statement that it investigated the claims and disagreed with the assertions of the family.
“Every school implements anti-bullying strategies and programs,” the district stated. “When a school is aware of possible bullying, those concerns are investigated promptly, thoroughly, and confidentially.”
An online fundraiser has raised over $10,400 to support Kelaia’s medical care, mobility needs and home adaptations.
“We are fighting for Kelaia’s healing every day,” the GoFundMe reads. “Her story can inspire others.”
