Tragically, she died by suicide in March—an unthinkable loss that has left her family and community reeling.
According to her parents, Autumn had been bullied at school, and despite their efforts to raise concerns, the cruelty persisted. Now, her death is sparking broader conversations about how schools handle bullying, the need for intervention, and the importance of fostering a culture of kindness.
While specific details have not been publicly disclosed, Autumn’s parents have openly stated that their daughter had been enduring repeated bullying before her death. Her story reflects a growing national crisis: the mental health struggles of children, some as young as elementary school age, who are pushed to their emotional limits by peer abuse.
Local news outlets, including Virginia Mercury and WDBJ7, have reported on Autumn’s death as a wake-up call for schools, lawmakers, and families alike.
Autumn’s tragic passing has led to an outpouring of grief—and a call to action. Local leaders, parents, and educators have rallied around the need for:
At just 10 years old, Autumn was already navigating emotional pain no child should ever experience. Her death is a devastating reminder that bullying is not harmless or trivial—it can have life-altering, even fatal, consequences.
Every parent, teacher, and student has a role to play in stopping bullying before it becomes deadly. Here’s what you can do:
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On September 10, 2025, America saw two school shootings in one day — one at Utah Valley University and another at Evergreen High School in Colorado. As Colorado relives the trauma of Columbine nearly three decades later, we must confront how bullying, trauma, and silence fuel cycles of violence that continue to devastate our schools.
On August 27, 2025, tragedy struck Minneapolis when a shooter opened fire during a school Mass at the Church of the Annunciation. Two children were killed, 18 others were injured, and countless lives were shattered. This was the 44th school shooting in the U.S. in 2025—a devastating reminder that our children are growing up in a world where violence echoes through classrooms, churches, and communities.
On June 4, 2024, 15-year-old Brandon Hatchell, a freshman at Darlington High School in South Carolina, was found dead in his home. His death has been ruled a suicide, and his family is now taking legal action against the Darlington County School District, alleging that ongoing bullying and negligence by school officials contributed directly to his death. The lawsuit claims that repeated reports of harassment were ignored, leaving Brandon feeling hopeless and unprotected.