Student's Mushroom Fueled Nude Rescue
Jon Carmichael, 13, Hangs Himself After Years of Bullying at School
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 2:44 pm
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But no one did anything. So Jon decided to take matters into his own hands.
On Sunday, he went to a barn near his home and hanged himself. Police are still sorting through what led him to this drastic measure.
His mother says the harassment became too much for Jon to bear, though details are still sparse on what exactly that harassment involved. Last fall, some bigger kids stuffed him in a garbage can, but that's the only incident we've heard so far.
We'll keep you posted.
See our last story on bullying: Phoebe Prince Suicide: Nine Teens Charged with Bullying 15-Year-Old Girl to Death.
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103 comments
This was such a hard time on Joshua kids, honestly unless you were around Jon you wouldn't have known Jon was bullied. I went to school, and it was so confusing because Jon was part of the sporty, comical group. My best friend and him were childhood friends, and my friend talked to him the night he hung himself. Everyone dealt with harassment it was like we harassed each other, someone would get pissed off and it was like a ripple, it was always like that in Joshua. Well every school I've been. People don't seem to understand that, Yeah kids are getting gutsy and killing themselves. It's so sad, but in the end, nobody really cares as much as thy say they do. the entire Loflin band, changed out of band uniforms and into funeral cloths for the viewing,inside cars. The only time nobody hurt one another, was when Jon died. Now Class of 2014 students in Joshua, undergo these emotional group meetings, R.A.D.I.O meetings. our entire class made vows to stop bullying and it hasn't done anything, I moved, and I still listen to my friends talk about how classmates treat them. It's such bullshit how everyone talks about how they're making a change and then turn around and call people they don't even know, sluts or whores, or fat, or anorexic. Bullying does so much more then hurt feelings, Right now I live half way across the Country, and my brother, who is 13 now, is getting bullied, and the schools "no bullying policy" is acting like it doesn't exist, I know at least 5 kids who are getting harassed and no one is doing anything. Why do we have to wait for someone to die to change things, or one kid to snap and kill everyone in the school, (our schools middle school and high school are literally right next to eachother and the 4-6 grade school and pre school is not even a block away and we live in a very hunting influenced area.) why do we have to wait for people to die before we make a change, I understand that people always have to have "a social ladder" but really, are we going to kill eachother to climb that ladder? Why wait?
As for you Kmgunaji. He wasn't murdered you ignorant moron. We live in Joshua, Tx. We live in the country, and know how to make knots unlike you.
I still can't believe that my friend actually hanged himself. He was fun to be around, and who ever picked on him should just feel sorry for themselves. He and I played football together and even had classes together. He always had a smile on his face as from what i could tell. I still miss Jon Carmichael. we had great times together.
maybe this kid was murdered by the bullies. how can a 13 year old know how to form the perfect noose for himself? i think he was murdered. ask the pot-bellied fbi to look into it. they are always the last to solve any crime.
i am the victim of rape crimes by the telugu community in beaverton oregon. nobody cares. they will one day. the craps are so skinny. i wish i could kill them. maybe wishing helps. then mother nature strikes. no one survives. ha ha ha ha ha.
they make the earth unbearable for a few people using polarity experiments through a few evil ones and then condemn them when they take their lives.
i am still being bullied by iit mumbai classmates. i am almost 50. i have survived some suicide attempts. they still do not let me wear clean clothes. this time i am bullied by old farts in their 70s who are piling on the wrinkles. this kids should have murdered. i regret not having done that. die all of you who caused this. the garbage stuffed him in a trash can. hookers kids did this. you all will never prosper.
bullying is wrong and this is what acting like a little shit and pushing people around leads too. poor kid. god bless
I agree and I feel sad that this kid had to end his life just to stop all nonsense. As for those kids who bullied, give them pure hell. Sometimes I feel we need to go back to the old times b/c nowadays kids are not brought up with any courtesy or goodness in them. They become spoiled and thus end up hurting other people. Beat them with a belt every single day until they learn that bullying is not tolerated AT ALL and make them feel guilty for the rest ofo their lives for what they have done to the victim. If I were to have kids, the most important thing out of all is to RESPECT everyone regardless of their status.
bulling is really messed up i went to school with jon he was alwayse happy and nobody ever thought he wud kill himself rip jon
we love you & miss you jon thomas carmichael <3you were a great friend to everyone , we all wish we could go back & atleast say ONE last goodbye . but if we could back , we would have stopped this from happening . youve been gone almost a year babyboy
I don't get what all the hating is about in the comments...People keep on being like "fuck you you have no idea" when we are just expressing our general sadness that this happened to a poor little boy. I understand that those who knew him are greiving and its never easy. But does that mean that the general public cannot express sadness about this terrible occurance....
Bullying is the biggest problem for children and teenagers. Schools need to develop ways to recognise the signs that a kid is being picked on and stop it. At our school, bullying is simply not tollerated and as such kids arent bullied. and if they are, they know to speak up and stop being victimezed. People just need to have compassion for each other and understand that words can do more damage than you can ever imagine.
non of you no what the fuck u are talking about i went to school with him i am also bullied home school wont help thay can call or text or come to your house and you are to scared not to hang out with them not one of you will ever now what it fells like as kids in this time with phones and thangs it is much worse i hate people who say they no what it felt like or thay are sad he is dead i knew him i am the one that is sad god damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
I am doing a project on bullying i read this story and bursted into tears why do bullies do this i always ask myself i will be honest i have hurt peoples feelings before but never went that far to make them commit suicide these bullies need to realize that we are all humans that have emotions and sometimes those emotions take ove rand make us do things like commit suicide but no one should because he had his whole life ahead of him i hope some bullies read this and notice the horrible things they are doing to people and the universe
I haven't read through all the comments, so accept my apologies if I am redundant, etc. I'd like to offer my perspective as a parent of a larger than average family, and having children from their mid 20's down to elementary school.
(1) Private schools (in our case, a Catholic K-8 school) is NO assurance of anti-bullying behavior. Our various children have gone through this school for the past 20 years; the last several years have been the very worst that I've ever seen at our school for one of our children who is currently in 8th grade. There is one child (if you can call him that - I call him a future sociopath, because that's exactly what he is), who terrorizes not only my son, but also other classmates, as well as kids in younger grades. He has physically punched, shoved, verbally intimidated kids, verbally issued death threats to younger students since he's been at the school for years and nothing is done to him other than an occasional slap on the wrist.
This particular principal at our school REFUSES, literally REFUSES to enforce the anti-bullying policy that we have in place. She literally REFUSES to deal with this issue even though parents have been calling and e-mailing her for months about their children being attacked by this same bully. None of us know WHY this is allowed to go on, why this particular kid is so well protected and insulated from consequences for his behavior. My husband and I have come to the conclusion that his parents and grandparents are what you might call "Pillars of the Community", they are people who most likely have some kind of financial endorsement connected to the church and school, thus this kid is given free reign to terrorize.
I am at the point where I get a few hours of sleep and the rest of my day is spent in worrying about my child's mental and emotional state due to the non-stop bullying issue. Guess what? Our son IS involved in martial arts and is good at it. He refuses to dole out a physical punishment to this kid because he "doesn't want to get in trouble", yet the bully is immune to getting in trouble even though he bullies not only the kids, but also acts up in class and gets sent to the principal's office on a daily basis.
The only thing left to do is either transfer him to our local public school in our small town (which is safe) or homeschool him. The other option is to send a letter to the Pope in Rome (sarcastic) and see if there is a response.
For those of you who think that Catholic schools or other private schools are a safe haven from bullying, you will be sadly mistaken. It will ultimately depend on the principal and whether she/he has a spine to enforce the anti-bullying measures that are in place.
At this point, I am absolutely disgusted with what goes on, and what has been happening with our child who is in his final year of this school. I am literally at a loss for what is allowed to go on at our school, a school that we pay tuition for and constantly volunteer so that the show can go one (the other parents do this too so I'm not congratulating us or giving us a pat on the back).
To the person above who said that there is a bit of "elitist" attitude that is pervasive in some schools; I have to say that you are spot on about that. There is a lot that happens in private schools that gets swept under the rug; this is exactly what is happening at our school right now and it is disgusting to know that it is happening, that it is wrong, and that people are at their wits end on how to handle it.
It seems to me as long as religion keeps telling youth that they deserve to and will be tortured in Hell for all eternity for being who they are we will never be able to stop bullying.
Religious people have to stop misrepresenting God as the great bully in the shy.
Geez another bullying story! I can make a list of bullying stories I heard on the news or internet. Victoria LindsayPhoebe PrinceJosie RatleyThe girls who beat up a 12 year old new girl in Clarksville and video taped it.A 12 year old in Massachusettes who commited suicide.A fifth grader in Stone Mountain,Georgia who commited suicide.The girl with cerebral palsy who father confronted her bullies on the bus.No dealt there's bullying and teasing at every school in the universe, but we should be teaching them not to bully or tease. We should all come together as a community and end bullying instead of waiting around for another tragedy to happen due to bullying.
Jon was my first love EVER!!! the next day in first period when I found out it happened I screamed!!! I can't believe he's gone. Now everyone thinks that since it's been 4 months it's nothing to worry about. I CRY everytime I hear someone talking to him. CHRIS MONTELONGO I HATE YOUR GUTS!!!!!!!!!! :'(
I find it ironic that so many girls/ women are posting on behalf of this boy. Given the fact that he was short, you would have automatically discounted him for any kind of romantic relationship because of your extreme prejudice against short guys. If he had stood up to his attackers - as I've done and as I would have recommended - whether with his fists or, in extreme cases, a weapon, you would have labled him as having some mythical "small man syndrome." Moreover, the big a$$holes who treated this boy so disdainfully did so because girls undoubtedly laughed and found the whole thing amusing. The bullying this boy faced was done for your benefit and, as tragic as his death is, at least he's been spared the subtle bullying that almost all short men face as a result of being considered "less than" by women. Pissed off? You bet, but I wouldn't want to be an inch taller! I can do without the prejudice, though. Undoubtedly this boy could have done without it, too.
I went to school with him he was a good friend and your right we didnt know because he didnt say anything and he always had a smile on his face so shut up
theres a solution to beating the butt face bullies!! make them go to counsoling!! (if any school faculty member is reading this please try this! IT WILL WORK 96% OF THE TIME!)
I used to go to the same school as him, but about a month after I moved this happened. I don't even like telling people what school I went to because some of the kids watched the news and heard about it :( He was a pretty cool kid, very popular, and I couldn't see him doing this...It still hurts me and some of his friends...R.I.P. Jon
Jon was my friend, we werent close. but, i love him. I think whoever did this to him, which i think i know, should face some serious consequences. Its terrible what happend, and i dont want it to happen again!
My heart is broken tonight after hearing the news about precious Jon Jon, that was the nickname I called him when I was his pre-k teacher in JISD. I haven't worked there in years so I don't know what happened in the life of this student who forever touched my heart with his joyful spirit. Reflecting on the numerous children I've taught over the years I would have never dreamed this could happen to Jon Jon. My prayers for his parents who adored him will be constant. Words can't describe my feelings of sorrow.
Schools and parents just are not teaching their children! They can't write, they have no respect for anything or anyone. Look at what this kid Morgan posted? That's sick.
Some of u dnt kno crap bout the school or the kid I happen to kno him and been in the school and at oneofthe dances I took my friend to cause my mom is a teacher their and he wuz a rlly rlly sweet kid and ciute at tht but I've cried cause it's sad for me and the school is new and not crappy It very pretty it wuz like something million dollars and there is nutin wrong wit public schools they r jus as good as private schoolsSo I wldnt be talkin
fuck you all. you guys do not know what happened to him john was one of my best friends and he still is he didnt get bullied everyday like them stupid ass reporters like to say he wqas shoved around a little bit. the reason he killed himself is because he had a hard home life. fuck you
Where are his parents through out all this ordeal,and the communication.As a parent we all know that kids are always a target no matter what.Be involved be an advocate how do you not know this is going on especially knowing your child can potentially be a target.I'd end up in jail for for beating some kids ass for messing with my son before he would even think of suicide!!!!!Believ that...
Val,You are extremely ignorant if you believe that children can not feel such pain that they must commit suicide...children have the same emotions as adults and know exactly what is going on around them. It insults me that you could actually believe that they dont have feelings too
I... this was tragic for our school. If I'd have known he was being bullied I would've done somethin'. Him and I were friends in pre-k thru 4th grade then he went to a different elementery till 7th grade I never saw him again. and this is just a horrible thing for the kids my age to deal with. I went to the funeral. It was a huge funeral so many people. Iwas one of the ones to sit in the way beck so i didnt hear muchh.. then it was time to walk past the casket. when I saw his face I just couldnt bear it any longer and I cried it all out. its like you never know how much you depend on EVERY SINGLE PERSON to be at that school when you wake up in the morning and how stable it is with everyone in our small town. and then this happened.I just HOPE that people can stop doing this. Its never too early for God to call you home but its ALWAYS AWLAYS ALWAYS too early for suicide. My condolences go out to Tammy, Crystal, Kimber, And Skylar. Peace.
i went to SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL in EUGENE, OREGON.i was bullied relentlessly by older girls. i was beaten, my head was stuck in a used toilet and other things i dont want to mention. the principle at SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL in EUGENE,OREGON did NOTHING. the girls went on to graduate no problem. i ended up having to transfer to another school, away from all my friends, but i never pulled it together after that and i didn't end up graduating. those girls and that principle changed the way my life was supposed to turn out. bullying is A REAL PROBLEM and we have to ENACT TOUGHER LAWS for these HORRIBLE CHILDREN!!!! this boy breaks my heart. hopefully he's finally at peace. if only someone told him that it would eventually end and that he would def get past it. RIP lil buddy.
Brandi my son dressed in name brand clothes, had a lot of friends. Rode his custom bike to school, always had $5.00 dollars for lunch. He was in a click, but his friends were all different, poor,I mean really poor, black, Mexican, a friend that was 320lb.s, short, two brothers that were half black half Japanese, tall. These kids were all good friends. I have always told my son if you see someone being ganged up on, you had better try and stop it. Our schools in our town have gangs. A kid that was in the 7th grade was pushing a little 6th grade boy down to the ground and would not let him up. My son and one of his friends picked the 7th grader up(my son was in7th)and head first put him in the garbage can. Needless to say I received a phone call my son was suspended for 2 days. What I am trying to say is it doesn't matter if your kid has it all, if their poor different race something has got to give in these schools to stop this bullying.
I went to Loflin Middle School and I remember that place and the horrid memories. I, like Jon, was a victim of the relentless torture all the years I went to Joshua schools, but middle school was the worst. My husband and I live there now but I'm almost sure I wont be sending my kids to those schools, at least not after elementary school. I know that kids that age can be like no matter where you live but Joshua is so full of "clicks" that it's unreal. If you dont wear expensive brand clothes then you were automatically cast out and picked on. It was ridiculous and the teachers were just as bad. The popular kids in school were always the teachers favorites.
That is real of you to share Sallow Thing. Especially calling it psycological warfare. These kids NEED to see that this stuff stays with a person. I am sorry you did'nt get heard back then when you called out for help. But you ARE heard now. Also helping people in charge (parents, teachers, princible's, bus drivers etc.) see that it is a new time with the same old crime and we need to work on FIXING it. Thanks.
I also was bullied in school and people think it's no big deal, but it's basically prolonged psychological warfare. It goes on all day, every day, and for many many years. For me I was getting shit from grade school onto high school graduation. It isn't just some "popular girl" calling you a heiffer one day. It's often the entire class. Many times, more than one grade. I was tripped in gym, some boy punched me in the back of the head at lunch. Then I was verbally abused by my father and when I went to my mother for help she flat out told me I deserved it because of my bad attitude. When I told a teacher she said "boys will boys" and the main female instigator was "having a tough life" so I should just let it go. No support. Anywhere. I had to talk myself out of knifing one bully during a passing period. His locker was next to mine and it was just getting unbearable, but I didn't stab him. I didn't kill myself, but still there is permanent damage. I'm hypersensitive to comments now and will drop people from my life without a moment's notice if they hurt me.
And unfortunately what I've found in my 33 years of life is that those cliquey douchebags from school don't grow out of it. They just get older.
This shit has GOT to stop! What about the parents?! One of the bullies goes on TV, his mother sitting silently next to him, he ADMITS that he picked on poor Jon, but it was all "in good fun", & never hated him. Now this bully's mother is in fear for her asshole son!
Sucks about the school system. We're too busy paying professional athletes and celebrities all kinds of cash, while our teachers are getting paid dick, so the only jobs they're willing to take on is sex with our children, or turning the other way when the child needs help.
To all you kids out there: don't be pussies like Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold and go on a shooting spree killing all kinds of innocent kids, and not your bullies. All these cunts that give you a hard time will either be behind bars in a few years wasting our tax money, or on the streets begging for our money. Go speak to your counselor or teacher, or whoever. Nothing happens? Go to the police AND media! If schools don't want to do their job, I strongly suggest you turn to others that will light a fire under their asses! Always take names, dates, & times... and to you parents that want to behave like George/Cindy Anthony, (not my child syndrome) we have all kinds of stupid laws that somehow get passed every day, it won't be long before we create a ridiculously dumb ass one to punish worthless parents like you! Get off the couch and do your job as a parent, and BE THERE FOR THEM! KNOW WHAT KIND OF KID YOU HAVE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, & SOMEONE ELSE'S KID IS DEAD!
I've often wondered how come school administors pretend that they don't see bullying or if they do, how come they pretend that there is *nothing* they can do about it.
How about if a teacher was bullying and harassing another teacher?
What if the math teacher shoved the english teacher into the locker, after calling her a shitty name?
I would imagine there would be consequences. In fact, if one adult hits another adult, well, that's considered assault.
Most grown-ups couldn't and wouldn't withstand daily barrages of insults and attacks, but yet we tell young teenagers and kids to deal with it.
If I were a teacher or administrator, I would literally have a no-tolerance policy that was strictly enforced. The first instance of a kid bullying another, that kid would invited to take a day off of school, getting a 0 for every class assignment that was assigned that day.
A couple of instances like this, kids will get the hint.
MM in Australia,EVERYONE has the power to do something.In the short run, teachers can intervene more when they see stuff happening, and in the long run, ANYONE who reproduces can take pains to raise children who have been taught how wrong and uncool bullying, shunning, harrassing etc. are.
My heart breaks when I look at this kid's picture.
I had a 13 year old daughter that was attack she begged me to not go to the cops. I did as she wished but her life was so much wrost afterwards, I now know I was wrong I should have called the cops. But the schools are like jails now what is wrong with us what can we do to stop this I guess be in the school as parents.
