PRIMGHAR, Iowa --- No criminal charges are expected to filed in the case of Kenneth Weishuhn, a Primghar, Iowa, teen who family members say committed suicide because he was bullied.
Prosecutors could not find sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for specific criminal acts against Weishuhn, 14, the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Weishuhn committed suicide April 15. Family members said the South O’Brien High School freshman was bullied at school and online after telling people he was gay.
O'Brien County Sheriff Michael Anderson said he agreed with the decision not to file charges. Laws in Iowa do not cover bullying, he said, and conduct in the case did not constitute illegal harassment.
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Weishuhn's death is a tragedy that affected the entire community, said Molly Tafoya, spokesman for gay and lesbian advocacy group One Iowa.
"We cannot lose any more young people because one loss is too many," Tafoya said in statement. "Instead, we have a responsibility as parents, teachers, individuals and community members to create communities and schools that are safe for all students. Together, we can create safe and accepting environments where young people can grow and thrive."
Weishuhn's family could not be reached for comment on the prosecutor's decision.
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Lets see if we listed the names of the bullies and their parents names in the local paper do you think the parents might think of their kids actions differently? Oh, that's right they are protected unlike the people they bully.
Hey now, don't bully the bullies. What kind of hypocrite would that make you?
Bullies have been around since the beginning of time. Did any of you read "Oliver Twist"? I am also reminded of the Town Bully in Skidmore, MO circa 1981.... 47 year old Ken Rex McElroy. He was a bully all his life until the terrorized town folk took matters into their own hands.
I personally have seen classmates bullied and harrassed when I was in school but did nothing in their defense for fear I might be the next "bully victim".
I doubt that this issue will ever be resolved. Shame on our society.
Hopefully people realize that bullying isn't just a problem within schools. It occurs in all areas and within all age groups. It's within the workplace, the military, organizations like churches and other various social societies. It might take the form of different levels of bullying, but it certainly exists. If you don't think so, you're just kidding yourself...
Grow up people. Nature evolves as survival of the fittest. Bullies have existed for all time, and those who cannot rise above them, fall behind. Quit babying people and learn to take some responsibility. The real shame lies on that kid and his parents. Him for being unable to deal with people teasing him. And his parents for not seeing the signs. You guys are telling me that people who are fat or ugly have been bullied this long with no one to help them, and they can get by just fine, but because the one kid committed suicide because he couldn't deal with other people's opinions, that we should all be heartbroken? Give me a break. If he died from hazing, or something along those lines, i would feel sorry for him.
Reallife-Are you being serious? That has to be one of the meanest, worst posts I have ever read on this site. This isn't just one kid killing himself because he was bullied. This happens every single day. Do you read the news? Beyond The Waterloo Courier? Shame on you. Bet you would feel differently if this was your son or family member.
As a matter of fact, i would not. Specifically because i talk to my family members all the time. I myself was short and scrawny as a kid, and got bullied all the time. My family has a lot of overweight people in it. We all got bullied as kids, but we rose above it, and learned to deal with it. If that kid in high school couldn't deal with abrasive opinions, then think how he would have been once he got out of his sheltered life and into the real world. All you guys take for granted the easy life we have here. We don't have to worry about much of anything here. So shame on you, for babying this next generation. Its because of people like you that our welfare system is out of control. Its because of you, that nobody had any work ethic anymore. America as a whole has become lazy, and too quick to push responsibility off on other people, or just plain not being able to adapt to situations. So yea, im serious
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