[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> LAST FALL, WE BROUGHT YOU
THE STORY OF 12-YEAR-OLD MALLORY
GROSSMAN, WHO DIED BY SUICIDE.
HER PARENTS TELLING US SHE HAD
BEEN TAUNTED BY FELLOW STUDENTS
OVER TEXTS, WHICH THEY BELIEVE
LED TO HER SUICIDE AND THEY FEEL
HER SCHOOL DISTRICT DID NOT DO
ENOUGH TO STOP THE HARASSMENT
AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS,
ALLEGATIONS THE SCHOOL HAS
CALLED CATEGORICALLY FALSE.
IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT JUST
YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED THAT HER
PARENTS HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND
TOWNSHIP.
AND NOW, ANOTHER STORY OF
TEENAGE SUICIDE THAT ALSO
INVOLVES CLAIMS OF BULLYING.
CONNER WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD
WHEN HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
HIS PARENTS ARE NOW ACCUSING
THEIR SON'S SCHOOL OF DOING MORE
TO PROTECT CONNER'S BULLIES THAN
THEIR SON.
WATCH.
>> CONNER CAME OUT READY TO ROLL
IN THIS WORLD.
>> Reporter: JASON AND THERESA
SAID THEIR SON HAD MANY FRIENDS,
EXCELLED AT SCHOOL AND LOVED THE
OUTDOORS.
>> THAT'S HIS WAY OF GETTING
AWAY FROM THINGS BECAUSE HE WAS
ALWAYS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>> Reporter: CONNOR HAD A CLOSE
BOND WITH HIS OLDER BROTHER,
KYLE.
>> MY FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE
HEARING THEM LAUGH IN THE TV
ROOM UPSTAIRS.
>> Reporter: CONNOR AND KYLE
ATTENDED A PRIVATE CATHOLIC
SCHOOL ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM
HOME IN CONNECTICUT.
>> I DEFINITELY DIDN'T LIKE HIM
BEING SO FAR AWAY FOR SCHOOL.
>> HE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES
THERE.
>> Reporter: THERESA SAID THE
BULLYING BEGAN IN THE FALL OF
FRESHMAN YEAR.
AT FIRST, HE WAS MAKING NEW
FRIENDS.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SO
POPULAR.
YOUR PHONE IS LIKE, BUZZ, BUZZ.
HE ROLLED HIS EYES AT ME AND WAS
DOING HIS HOMEWORK.
THAT WAS THAT.
>> Reporter: THEN, THERESA CAME
TO BELIEVE THAT CONNER WAS BEING
BULLIED OVER TEXT MESSAGES FROM
FELLOW CLASSMATES, ALTHOUGH SHE
NEVER SAW THE TEXTS.
>> I NEVER ASKED CONNER ABOUT
THE TEXT.
THE MORE WE TRIED TO HAVE
CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, I KNEW HE
WAS JUST GOING TO SHUT DOWN.
>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL INFORMED
HER WHEN CONNER E-MAILED AN
ADVISER FOR SUMMER CAMP,
REQUESTING OLD PHOTOS BE REMOVED
FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
HE WROTE HE WAS BEING BULLIED
USING THE PICTURES AND IT MADE
HIM INCREDIBLY UPSET.
>> THEY WERE PICTURES OF HIM
THAT MADE HIM LOOK LIKE A VERY
LITTLE KID, HOLDING A DUCK.
YOU KNOW, AT A FARM OR
SOMETHING.
PICTURES OF WHEN HE WAS HEAVIER,
I WOULD IMAGINE.
>> HE WAS CHUBBIER.
>> Reporter: THERESA MET WITH
SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARMED WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHONE
NUMBERS TEXTING CONNER AND
TOGETHER, THEY CAME UP WITH A
PLAN.
>> THEY WERE GOING TO CALL
CONNER IN AND HAVE A
CONVERSATION AND CHECK ON HIM.
I THOUGHT THAT THE PLAN THAT WAS
PUT INTO PLACE HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: THAT NEXT SUMMER AT
CAMP, A STATE SOCIAL WORKER WAS
CALLED IN WHEN A FRIEND CAME
FORWARD TO REPORT THAT CONNER
WAS HARMING HIMSELF AND
EXPRESSING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
THAT DECEMBER, CONNER DIED BY
SUICIDE.
>> AND TO THIS DAY, WE DON'T
HAVE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED
LAST YEAR.
>> JOINING ME NOW, THERESATHERE
CONNER'S MOM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT'S ONLY BEEN SIX MONTHS.
WHY ARE YOU SPEAKING OUT ABOUT
THIS PUBLICLY?
>> I DON'T WANT ANY FAMILY, ANY
CHILD TO HAVE TO ENDURE THE PAIN
THAT OUR FAMILY HAS GONE
THROUGH.
>> WHAT MADE YOU SAY HE DIED AS
A RESULT OF BULLYING?
>> BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE WAS
BULLIED IMMENSELY.
AND I KNOW THAT IT BROKE HIM
DOWN.
AND IT MADE HIM FEEL THE WAY HE
DID.
>> YOU KNOW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE BULLYING NOW?
>> YES.
>> YOU'RE NOT SAYING IT
PUBLICLY.
BUT YOU KNOW.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE SCHOOL?
THE SCHOOL'S RESPONSE HAS
ESSENTIALLY BEEN, WE DID ALL WE
COULD.
WE INVESTIGATED IT, CONNOR WAS
TELLING US, HE WAS FINE AND
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ANY SCHOOL
CAN DO TO PREVENT AN ACTION LIKE
THIS.
>> HONESTLY, THEY DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING, AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED, OR WE'RE CONCERNED.
THE PLAN THAT WAS PUT INTO
PLACE, TO MONITOR AND FOLLOW-UP
WITH THE PHONE NUMBERS AND WATCH
CONNOR AND HIS CLASSMATES AND
TIMES THEY WOULD BE TOGETHER,
THE EDUCATION THAT SHOULD HAVE
OCCURRED, THERE'S NO
DOCUMENTATION.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OF
THAT OCCURRED.
>> HIS PHONE STARTED TO LIGHT UP
WITH ALL THESE TEXTS OVER AND
OVER.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE
FROM.
YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FRIENDS?
>> AS I SAID, I JOKED WITH HIM.
OH, YOU'RE SO POPULAR.
YOUR PHONE IS JUST BUZZ, BUZZ,
BUZZ.
HE WAS NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA
PERSON.
HE WAS NOT A TEXTER.
HE WAS NOT A PHONE TYPE OF
PERSON.
AND SO, FOR THAT AMOUNT OF
BUZZING, AS I USE THAT TERM, I
WAS LIKE, WHAT IS HAPPENING?
BUT IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF
SCHOOL.
I JUST ASSUMED AS THOUGH, YOU
KNOW, MEETING MORE PEOPLE,
HAVING CONVERSATION, UNTIL I GOT
THE CALL THAT HE HAD REPORTED
THAT HE WAS BEING --
>> HE HAD REACHED OUT TO THE
SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR SAYING
TAKE DOWN THE PICTURES OF ME
BECAUSE THEY'RE LEADING TO
BULLYING, WHICH IS INCREDIT MRI
UPS
INCREDIBLY UPSETTING.
THERE'S A QUESTION OF WHAT THE
SCHOOL DID AFTER THAT.
WHEN ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED
MONTHS LATER, WHAT OBLIGATION
THE SCHOOL HAS TO PROTECT YOUR
CHILD WHEN A RED FLAG HAS
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> CONNOR TRONERUD WAS ONLY 15
YEARS OLD WHEN HE TOOK HIS LIFE
THIS LAST DECEMBER.
JOINING ME IS THERESA AND HER
ATTORNEY.
YOU DON'T FEEL THE SCHOOL
FOLLOWED UP ON THE PEOPLE BEHIND
THE TEXTS.
HUNDREDS OF TEXTS A DAY.
AND THEY SAID THEY'D LOOK INTO
IT.
YOU DON'T FEEL THEY DID.
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THEN, THERE WAS A SECOND
INCIDENT.
HE WENT BACK TO SUMMER CAMP,
RIGHT?
THE FOLLOWING SUMMER.
AND ONE OF HIS FELLOW CAMPERS
REPORTED TO A COUNSELOR THAT HE
WAS ENGAGING IN SELF-HARM AND
HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
>> ACTUALLY, A FORMER CLASSMATE
FROM HIS PREVIOUS SCHOOL, THAT
CONNOR HAD SHARED WITH, HAD
COMMUNICATED WITH A CAMP
DIRECTOR.
>> THEY DID TELL YOU THAT.
YOU WERE LOOPED IN.
>> OH, YES, AT THE CAMP.
>> AND SO, WHAT -- TO THOSE WHO
WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, HE WAS
HAVING ISSUES, YOU, AS THE MOM,
WERE ALERTED, WHAT COULD THE
SCHOOL HAVE DONE?
WHAT SAY YOU?
>> I'M SORRY.
>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET -- RAISE
THE RED FLAGS FOR SCHOOLS TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND
WHAT MORE THEY CAN DO TO HELP
PARENTS.
>> IN CONNOR'S SITUATION, WHEN
HE WAS AT THE SCHOOL, AT THE
CAMP, HE HAD AN EVALUATION.
IT WAS CLEARLY BROUGHT TO HIS
ATTENTION, HE WAS FOUND SAFE AT
THAT TIME.
BUT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE
NEEDED TO STILL BE ADDRESSED.
>> THE BULLYING.
>> YES.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THE SCHOOL
WAS NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR VIEW
OF DOING THAT?
>> THEY WANTED TO KEEP IT QUIET.
WHO WANTS TO BRING ATTENTION TO
THEMSELVES?
>> AND I KNOW YOU SAY WE'RE NOT
NAMING THE CHIEF BULLY, BUT YOU
BELIEVE THIS PERSON WAS FROM A
PROMINENT FAMILY.
AND YOU THINK THE SCHOOL WAS
INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THAT
FAMILY.
>> YES.
>> THE SCHOOL, WE SHOULD SAY, WE
REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE
LEAD INVESTIGATOR FOR THE
INDEPENDENT REPORT THAT LOOKED
INTO THIS.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE UNHAPPY WITH
THAT REPORT.
BOTH DECLINED TO ANSWER OUR
QUESTIONS.
BUT THEY DID GIVE US A STATEMENT
THAT READS IN PART, WHEN IT WAS
SUGGESTED THAT HIS SUICIDE IN
DECEMBER 2017 WAS CONNECTED TO
BULLYING, HE HAD REPORTED IN
2016, WE WERE SURPRISED, THEY
SAID.
WE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE IN 2016.
THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL
BULLYING COMPLAINTS RAISED BY
CONNOR.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ISSUE WAS
RESOLVED.
WE CRITICALLY EXAMINED
EVERYTHING WE DID, WHILE WE WISH
WE COULD HAVE INTERVENED MORE,
CONNOR WAS A PRIVATE PERSON AND
DID NOT REVEAL THE EXTENT TO
WHICH HE WAS STRUGGLING.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> THAT IS NOT A GOOD RESPONSE.
THEY DIDN'T ADDRESS ANYTHING.
THEY DIDN'T.
>> WHAT IS THE SCHOOL'S
OBLIGATION, WENDY?
YOU HEAR THEM SAYING CONNOR
DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THEIR DEFENSE IS, HE DIDN'T WANT
US TO GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL
BULLIES.
HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BLOW IT UP
MORE.
WHAT IS THE OBLIGATION?
>> MOST BULLYING VICTIMS DON'T
WANT TO MAKE A FUSS BECAUSE
THEY'RE WORRIED IT'S GOING TO
GET WORSE.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
RETALIATION.
THE GROWN-UPS, THE SCHOOL, THE
OFFICIALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE, ARE
SUPPOSED TO ACT, NO MATTER WHAT
THE CHILD SAYS, BECAUSE BULLYING
IS HIGHLY CORRELATED WITH
SUICIDE.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO RISK THAT
CHILD GETTING WORSE AND WORSE
AND ENDING UP IN THIS TRAGIC
SITUATION.
>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY HE WAS
A PRIVATE PERSON.
>> THAT'S A RIDICULOUS RESPONSE.
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
AND IF THAT'S THEIR DEFENSE,
THEY'RE GOING TO FACE A LOT OF
LEGAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE IF THAT'S
A SCHOOL'S RESPONSE, WELL, WE
TRIED TO ASK THE CHILD BUT HE
DOESN
DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT,
AND YOU DO NOTHING.
>> THAT'S TRUE IN ALMOST EVERY
BULLYING CASE IN THE HISTORY OF
MANKIND.
>> THAT'S A LAWSUIT I'M GOING TO
WIN.
>> YEAH.
GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.
>> THEY NEVER CAME TO ME AND
SAID THAT THEY CHANGED THE PLAN.
AND THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PLAN
THAT WAS SET UP.
I TRUSTED THEM.
YOU KNOW, I HAD NO REASON NOT TO
TRUST THEM TO DO WHAT THEY SAID
TO PROTECT HIM, REGARDLESS OF IF
HE WAS PRIVATE OR NOT PRIVATE.
>> YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING
TO FOLLOW UP ON THEIR PROMISES.
>> AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE
ADDITIONAL REPORTS.
>> THERESA, I FEEL LIKE, I DON'T
KNOW HOW YOU'RE SITTING HERE
RIGHT NOW, AS ARTICULATE AND
COMPOSED AS YOU ARE.
BUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY
AND TRYING TO HELP OTHERS IN A
DIFFICULT TIME FOR YOU.
AND, WENDY, ALL THE BEST TO YOU,
TOO.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS
CONTEMPLATING OR HAVING SUICIDAL
THOUGHTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE