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Topics: Racism, Mental Health, Education, US News, Texas
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Disturbing details have emerged after an 11-year-old girl tragically took her own life after reportedly being subjected to bullies' taunts over her immigration status.
Jocelynn Rojo Carranza was found unresponsive by her mom, Marbella Carranza, at their home in Gainesville, Texas on February 3.
The grief-stricken parent told CNN affiliate KUVN she was hoping for a 'miracle' that her little girl would come around but medics determined there was 'nothing that could be done.'
Jocelynn passed away five days later while in intensive care in Dallas.
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Following her daughter's death, Marbella claimed Jocelynn was a 'victim of racism' as she was taunted for months at her Gainesville school over her family's immigration status.
The mom said she was unaware at the time of the sixth grader's ordeal and only learned Jocelynn had been receiving counselling at school from investigators.
"It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,” she said. “It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening."
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“(I want) justice because it’s not fair - the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter."
Marbella further told Univision station that her daughters' bullies picked on her for being Hispanic, and had said they were going to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 'so her parents could be taken away and she would be left alone.'
Speaking to ABC News Live, Marbella also said she hopes her daughter's death 'should serve as a lesson to the world to see what the new president's polices are doing.'
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Gainesville Independent School District vowed it would investigate the bullying allegations and have now released the shocking findings in a public statement.
In the press release, the school confirmed the youngster was bullied by another pupil on more than one occasion and that the principal was made aware of the harassment just days before Jocelynn's death on January 30.
The school said Jocelynn reported the ICE and deportation threats to the principal and that the remarks were directed towards a group of Hispanic students on the bus.
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The school's Director of Transportation further stated it was not a 'one-time occurrence.'
Officials also said one student has since been disciplined for bullying but didn't disclose any further information about the culprit or punishment.
"The student was identified, interviewed, and disciplinary consequences were issued by campus administration on January 31, 2025, in accordance with the GISD Student Code of Conduct," the statement added.
The school also said 'additional concerns' surfaced, including allegations that her brother had also been bullied and referred to a separate CPS investigation.
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As for the young girl's counselling, GISD said her family had signed a permission slip to authorize her involvement.
"Our hearts go out to [her] family, friends, and the entire Gainesville community during this incredibly difficult time," a spokesperson for the school district previously told UNILAD.
During the youngster's funeral, her heartbroken mom said: "Please remember her kindly because she was a very happy girl. Every day, she would tell me that she loved me."
UNILAD has contacted the school for further comment.