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This story may contain disturbing details. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
The bullying Adriana Kuch endured at a New Jersey school that allegedly “created a culture of violence” continued at home until she took her own life, her family alleges in a lawsuit.
Kuch was a 14-year-old student in the Central Regional School District when she committed suicide at home on February 3, 2023, two days after a video of his assault in the hallway went viral.
During Adriana’s funeral on February 10, Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides, who has since resigned, allegedly made “defamatory” statements to reporters about Kuch’s father having an affair. He said that led to Adriana’s mother’s suicide and then leaked Adriana’s mental health problems to the press, the lawsuit alleges.
Instead of protecting Adriana from “known” bullies, the “egregious” actions of New Jersey district officials were “deliberate, wanton, reckless, intentional, malicious, and in complete disregard” for the Kuch family, according to the lawsuit filed this week. .
NEW JERSEY STUDENT ENDS HIS LIFE AFTER MONTHS OF HARASSMENT, VIDEO OF BEATING IN SCHOOL HALLWAY CIRCULATES ONLINE
The Central Regional School District did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Kuch was brutally manhandled by a group of students in the hallway, while at least one other student filmed the brutal surprise assault and uploaded the video to social media, where it quickly spread.
NJ STUDENT BULLYED LIKE ADRIANA KUCH ONE YEAR BEFORE TEEN’S SUICIDE AFTER FILMED SCHOOL ASSAULT: LAWSUIT
The attackers allegedly punched Adriana in the face, pulled her hair, hit her with a water bottle and kicked her while students watching laughed and egged on their attackers.
The physical toll was obvious, as images of what appeared to be bruises covered his body. She suffered bruising, swelling, cuts and lacerations to her head, face, body and legs, according to the lawsuit.
But the avalanche of comments of hate, shame and ridicule that followed the teenager was worse. He remained a stink for two days before his father discovered that his daughter had hanged herself in his room during the night of February 2-3.
William Krais, an attorney for the Kuch family, said Adriana’s father, Michael Kuch, and his family have already been through “a lot of pain and tragedy.”
“The gross negligence of school officials, followed by the superintendent’s cruel, insensitive and defamatory comments only compounds their pain,” Krais said in a statement. “The defendants’ job is to provide a safe environment for the students of Central Regional High School.
“They catastrophically failed Adriana, causing emotional distress, humiliation and shame that ultimately led her to take her own life. It is time for the school and those involved to be held accountable for their actions.”
DEATH OF ADRIANA KUCH: NJ COUNTY PROSECUTOR MEETS SCHOOL OFFICIALS AFTER BULLYED TEENAGER TOOK HER OWN LIFE
The wide-ranging civil suit, which was filed Jan. 29 in Ocean County Court, named the Central Regional School District, former superintendent Parlapanides, the school board, the high school principal and assistant principal and several district officials who served in a series of anti-bullying leadership roles cases.
The legal action calls for a jury trial and unspecified punitive damages.
WATCH: SCHOOL BOARD EXPLODES AFTER ADRIANA KUCH’S SUICIDE
Adriana’s suicide and the video of the bullies’ attack ignited anger among the community, which filled the next school board meeting.
One by one, their friends and parents of other students yelled at school board members and district officials about a culture of bullying they say has existed for years.
There is currently a lawsuit against the school district for a nearly identical hallway attack on another student that was recorded and posted to social media.
“I had a student who came to the district happy and healthy. He didn’t need doctors or psychiatric help, and now he is medicated,” one parent said during the meeting.
“We are suffering. They are suffering. My daughter comes home, she is afraid and she doesn’t want to go to school,” another parent said while holding back tears.
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