A lawsuit has been filed against a South Carolina school district and nine faculty members, alleging negligence in a bullying case that led a 12-year-old girl to attempt suicide. The girl, Kelaia Turner, now 14, was subjected to over a year of physical and verbal abuse by five of her peers at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that the bullying began in 2021 when Kelaia started wearing her natural hair to school. She was reportedly called derogatory names and even her teacher, Olivia Bennett, is accused of participating in the mockery. The bullying escalated in 2022 when Kelaia was involved in a fight with one of the bullies. The school officials reportedly suspended Kelaia but not the bully.
In a tragic turn of events, Kelaia attempted suicide in 2023 by hanging herself. She was clinically dead for eight minutes before paramedics were able to revive her. The suicide attempt resulted in severe brain damage, leaving Kelaia in a coma for several weeks.
While Kelaia was in the coma, one of the bullies allegedly entered the ICU, took photos of her, and posted them on social media, further spreading rumors about her condition. The lawsuit claims that the school district failed to take any significant action to stop the bullying, despite repeated complaints from Kelaia’s parents.
Kelaia’s mother, Ty Turner, is now seeking justice for her daughter. The lawsuit, filed in November, is seeking damages to cover Kelaia’s medical bills, psychiatric expenses, special education, parents’ lost wages, life care expenses, disability care, injury to her psyche and emotional state, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Greenville County Schools has denied the allegations, stating that they have conducted a thorough investigation into each allegation at the time they were made. They also expressed their sympathy for Kelaia and her family.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Kelaia and her family, raising over $15,000 as of Tuesday morning.