After State College teen’s death, family asks anyone who may have witnessed bullying to come forward
The parents of the Park Forest Middle School student who died this month are asking anyone who may have witnessed any form of bullying to come forward.
In a letter sent to the State College Area School District community Friday via Superintendent Curtis Johnson, the parents of eighth grader Abby Smith addressed the community for the first time since the 14-year-old’s death by suicide on May 12. Parents Jon and Jen thanked the community for the support they’ve received in the weeks after their daughter’s death, and for the memories people have shared.
“It has been so amazing to see how many lives she touched with so few words,” they wrote. “She was careful with the words she chose, so each word carried so much weight when we heard them. Her kindness, her intelligence, and her spirit lives on in her words and our memories of her.”
The letter also sought to clarify a districtwide communication Johnson sent last week, where he wrote that Abby’s parents shared with the district that “they were not aware of Abby being bullied, and that they do not believe it was the reason she died by suicide.”
In Friday’s note, Abby’s parents said their daughter did not tell them directly that she was being bullied, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
“We haven’t been informed of any concrete evidence to prove or disprove that bullying occured,” her parents wrote. “The reality is, we don’t know if Abby was bullied. If she was, we don’t know what effect it had on her.
“While we may never know for sure one way or the other, it is so important to talk openly and honestly about what we do know to be true, so that we can all see what happened and what changes may help others in the future.”
In last week’s communication to families, Johnson asked community members to submit screenshots or other evidence of bullying. But physical evidence, if present, may be difficult to obtain with social media apps where messages disappear after opening, Abby’s parents wrote. They asked anyone to come forward if they’ve witnessed something online or an in-person act.
“Both small and large acts can contribute to a pattern of bullying,” the family wrote. “The more information we have, the better we can understand the complete picture of what did or did not happen.”
Information can be reported to school support staff, police, teachers or Safe2Say reporting. In the note to district families, Jon and Jen even invited anyone with information to reach out to them.
“Please be heard and know that we are listening,” they wrote.
The district and local law enforcement agencies are investigating Smith’s death, according to last week’s letter from the school district.
Suicide prevention resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 988
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org
Center for Community Resources: Visit 2100 E. College Ave., 24/7
