An educational district in Utah, USA, announced on Friday its intent to open an independent investigation into alleged bullying of a 10-year-old girl who committed suicide after being harassed by her peers due to her African descent and autism, according to her family. The family of Isabella Tichinor accuses the educational district of failing to do enough to protect their daughter after they reported the bullying to the school.
The external investigation represents an escalation of actions after the Davis School District stated earlier this week that it was conducting its own investigation and had responded appropriately, working extensively with the family regarding their complaints. In a statement sent by spokesperson Shona Lund, the educational district expressed that "Isabella's death is tragic and devastating," as reported by the Associated Press. Lund added, "We will conduct an independent investigation to further explore this matter and review how we handle critical issues, such as bullying, to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all students."
Tyler Airis, an attorney representing Isabella and her mother, Brittany Tichinor Cox, stated that the girl was bullied by a small group of other students at Foxborough Elementary School in North Salt Lake, who referred to her with derogatory terms, told her she smelled bad, and mocked her for being autistic. Airis noted that the family informed teachers, school administrators, and the school district about the bullying, but no action was taken to stop the harassment. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice reprimanded the educational district, noting that African American students make up only about 1% of approximately 73,000 students in North Salt Lake City, for its failure to address widespread racial discrimination.
