Rebecca Ann Sedwick Update: Family says bullying drove 12-year-old Fla. girl to commit suicide, report says
(CBS) LAKELAND, Fla. - The family of a 12-year-old Lakeland, Fla. girl says the teen was driven to commit suicide after she was continuously bullied, and that school officials knew about it, according to CBS affiliate WTSP.
The station reports Rebecca Ann Sedwick's family had notified officials at the Crystal Lake Middle School about the bullying and that they handed over the complaints to police for investigation.
Rebecca is suspected of taking her life after her body was found Tuesday at a closed industrial site in Lakeland.
Relatives told WTSP they had pulled Rebecca out of the school in February for home-schooling, deleted her Facebook account, and that she switched schools for the new academic year, all because of the bullying.
Rebecca's mother reportedly filed the complaint about the bullying to Crystal Lake Middle School officials.
After the teen recently switched schools, the bullying allegedly continued through social media sites, and the family is asking what happened to the report that was passed from the school to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Rebecca's mom has reportedly said that school officials could have helped stop her daughter's pain but didn't.
WTSP reports a candlelight vigil was held for Rebecca on Wednesday and was attended by about 200 people.
