Suicides In The News--MARIA HERRERA--12

APRIL 14, 2008 MARIA HERRERA AGE 12

The heartbroken mother of the 12-year-old Brooklyn girl who cops say hanged herself in her closet last week said her daughter was tormented by schoolyard bullies, including one classmate who cut off her hair.

The PS 72 sixth-grader, Maria Herrera, also told a guidance counselor in October 2006 that she wanted to kill herself, her mother, Mercedes Herrera, told The Post.

When the guidance counselor called, "I said there is no problem at home, everybody is teasing her [at school]," Herrera said.

When she confronted her daughter in October, she said, the girl told her, "I'll never say that again. Don't worry, I won't do it."

The mother found her daughter's body hanging from a cloth belt in her bedroom closet April 7. She had gone to a wake and left Maria in the care of her stepfather.

Herrera said she complained "more than 20 times" to teachers and others involved with the school - most recently while clutching a lock of her daughter's hair the week before Easter.The department released a statement saying it had no record of her complaints.

"This situation is a tragedy. But there is no record that this student had been a victim of persistent bullying or that her parents had complained about persistent bullying at the school," according to the statement.

A spokeswoman for the Administration for Children's Services said the agency was investigating.

At yesterday's wake, Maria was laid out in a white dress, surrounded by butterfly and angel figurines and flowers.

Her classmates created a collage with handwritten notes that was displayed at the service.

"I am sorry," one student wrote. Another wrote, "We won't bother you."

Last night, her biological father, Eduardo Esparra remembered his daughter as a fun-loving kid who enjoyed hanging out with her friends.

"She's a very loving and caring girl," he said mournfully.

MY TAKE

SO HER CLASSMATES APOLOGIZED AFTER HER DEATH HUH? That makes me so damn angry. Parents need to start teaching their children that bullying is wrong! It angers me to no end when I catch people saying, "Kids will be kids!" 

BULLSHIT!

It's always kids will be kids until someone  gets hurt. Children are always vulnerable to suicide because they don't have enough life experience to deal with what life can sometimes bring. They don't always know that there is another way. 

IF you know someone that is suicidal and you are reading this,  get help for them now. Before it's too late. 

Never EVER underestimate a person who states that they have been thinking about suicide or even talk about suicide. Get them help immediately. You could be saving a life. 

Wake up America. Because YOUR child could be next. 

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04142008/news/regionalnews/bullies_killed_my_girl_106449.htm