Teen Rosalie Avila Hangs Herself After Enduring Years of Bullying

Lena Hansen
Updated

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After years of relentless bullying by classmates, 13-year-old Rosalie Avila of Yucaipa, CA, decided to take her own life. The teen hanged herself on Nov. 28, leaving behind a note apologizing to her parents for the pain she knew her death would cause them. “‘Sorry, Mom and Dad. I love you… Sorry, Mom, you’re gonna find me like this,'” Avila’s last written message to them read, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Declared brain dead on Dec. 1, she was taken off life support Dec. 4. Rosalie, who her parents said dreamed of becoming a lawyer, also left behind a journal detailing the bullying she endured for years while attending Mesa View Middle School. Her story has an eerie resemblance to the premise on Netflix’s drama series 13 Reasons Why. Based on the novel by Jay Asher, the show is about a teenage girl who records 13 reasons why she ended her life, most of which revolve around the mistreatment she experienced from peers.

After being bullied by her middle school peers for two years, 13-year-old Rosalie Avila of Yucaipa, California tragically tried to take her life on Tuesday, Nov. 28th. She was taken to hospital and removed from life support on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. . Rosalie left behind a letter apologizing and mentioned that she was "ugly" and a "loser." The school was aware of Rosalie's bullying and she had been in counseling, according to her aunt. Rosalie kept a journal of the people who hurt her and those who called her ugly and put her down, according to her mother. . Her parents said their daughter would often cut her wrists. "I remember a couple nights she'd come home, telling me that the kids are calling her names about her teeth. I go, 'You have braces, honey, don't worry. The braces are going to come off,' and she said, 'Yeah, but my teeth are straight and they're still making fun of me,'" her father said. . Then, on Tuesday, Rosalie hanged herself. "That's a vision you never want to see from your daughter in her bedroom," her mother said. “We had her in counseling, but I really feel like social media is such a big thing on kids," her mother added. "I think kids don't have the maturity to handle it." . Rosalie's emotional father had a message for people everywhere. "Think about what you say before you say it because your words are going to hurt somebody," Freddie Avila said, in tears. . Rosalie was described as a loving and warm individual who was a great artist and always got good grades. Her family said she loved the snow as much as she loved the beach and enjoyed singing. Her dream was to become a lawyer so she could make the world a better place. Be at peace Rosalie... ???? #rosalieavila #riprosalie #riprosalieavila #stopbullying #endbullying #instamemorials #bullyingawareness #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #bullyinghurts

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Her parents, Freddie and Charlene Avila, who believe the school did not take appropriate measures to stop the bullies that tormented their daughter, are also being harassed by internet trolls. The Avilas claim they’ve received memes that have appeared on social media making fun of their daughter’s death.

#TeenBullying #SpeakUp 13-year-old Rosalie Avila, an eighth grader at #MesaViewMiddleSchool, was just taken off life support after having been found hung in her bedroom when she decided to take her own life. Rosalie was a victim of bullying. Described as a beautiful person inside and out, a great artist, very lovable & loving. Her smile would light up the whole room with her laughter. Rosalie was described as very smart, always getting good grades. Her dream was to one day be a lawyer, she wanted to help the world be a better place..... She loved the beach, and liked going out into the snow. With a great personality, very funny, she enjoyed reading and liked dressing up as her favorite characters like “Belle” from “Beauty and the Beast” & Stitch. She liked watching “The Walking Dead “, Stranger Things”, & “Meet the Fosters”. She always remembered her friends birthdays and would go out of her way to get them a gift; she truly cared about people. She loved to drink hot cocoa while she watched her favorite shows and movies. Described as a daddy’s girl and her mommy’s princess. Rosalie sustained bullying in her school over a two-year period, according to her family. Her mother said she kept a journal, in it were all the people who hurt her and people that called her ugly and just putting plain putting her down. Rosalie was in counseling, but her mom said that social media was a big part of the problem, stating that the world of 24/7 social media is too much pressure on today’s kids, too mature for them to handle it. Rosalie left behind a suicide note, in it she apologized and mentioned that she was ‘ugly’ and a ‘loser.’ Rest In Peace Rosalie, I wish there was more the world could have done. #BullyingAwareness #TeenSuicide “If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) . It is a free, 24/7 service that offers support, information, and local resources.” #RosalieAvila #Angel #KnowTheSigns #SpeakUp #Talk

A post shared by Nomi CR (@everychildmatters) on Dec 4, 2017 at 2:59pm PST

“It’s so heartless, so mean to do that. And it’s not funny, it’s not funny to see that image of your daughter and to be mocked like she’s crap, and she’s not. That’s my daughter,” Charlene told Fox 11. “The things that they post on social media about my daughter are unacceptable. The people that liked it and fed into it: It’s painful and it makes me angry to know that they have no heart.”

The Avilas told media outlets they reported Rosalie’s bullies to the school’s authorities, but they felt not enough was done to stop those who continually harassed her. “Right now, the bullies are still there. They were suspended for a couple days and then they come back and bully someone else,” her father said to Fox 11.

The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District released a statement on Dec. 4, which reads, in part: “We are working closely with detectives at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Yucaipa Station in their investigation into allegations of bullying.”

The family has also received an outpouring of love and support online from members of their community. “She reflects beauty inside and out from those pictures, the world just lost something special. My prayers to her family. Truly sorry for your loss,” one person wrote. Another added: “She was so pretty. So sad how kids treat each other. Prayers to the family.”