A Berks County teenager killed himself at his home on Monday. His distraught parents, who discovered his body, believe that his suicide was due to teen bullying after speaking to some of his high school friends.
Jessie Buchsbaum, 17, was a student at Boyertown Area High School. While his parents say that their son never complained about being bullied, they believe it was the cause of his death.
“My son was learning disabled and he was slow,” said Louise Buchsbaum. “The kids would pick on him because he didn’t have a lot of friends.”
Police are currently investigating the allegations.
“We’ve spoken with some of his friends,” said Detective Dick Boughter of the Douglass Township Police Department. “We plan on going to the school and speaking with some officials there and students if possible to try and get some answers.”
The Buchsbaums plan a funeral mass for Friday. They’re also trying to raise enough money to bury Jessie.
The Boyertown school superintendent says that he doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding Jessie’s death. School administrators are currently discussing the matter in private.
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In the meantime, the school extends their sympathies to the Buchsbaums.
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