A sudden resignation came over the weekend from superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides of Central Regional School District in Ocean County, roughly a week after a bullied 14-year-old student at the high school died by suicide. Reports say freshman Adriana Olivia Kuch took her own life on Feb. 3. According to her family, it happened just after a video recording of four classmates attacking her in school spread on social media. NJ Spotlight News is choosing not to show the full video.
This weekend, those four teens were charged by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for that attack. The charges range from harassment to aggravated assault. Students last week held a walk-out calling attention to bullying in the district and for changes to anti-bullying policies. Kuch’s father has called for the details of his daughter’s assault to be made public. He says she was left bruised and bloodied from the assault. Staff brought her to the nurse but didn’t report the attack to the local police department.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available by calling the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
