11-year-old girl takes her own life after allegedly being bullied over 'family’s immigration status'
Local police in Gainesville, Texas are now investigating the claims of bullying
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
The mother of an 11-year-old girl has spoken out about her daughter allegedly being targeted by 'bullies' before she took her own life.
A funeral was held for Jocelynn Rojo Carranza on Wednesday (February 19), after she was found unresponsive by her mom, Marbella Carranza, at their home in Gainesville, Texas on February 3.
Carranza told CNN affiliate KUVN she was 'waiting for a miracle' and hoping that her daughter would get better after she found her, but unfortunately there was 'nothing that could be done' for her little girl. Jocelynn sadly passed away five days after she was found in her home.
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Following her daughter's passing, Carranza alleged that Jocelynn was being bullied and taunted at her school in Gainesville over the subject of her family's immigration status.
The mom said that prior to speaking to investigators, she had no previous indication that her daughter was being targeted. She then claims to have learned that bullies said they were 'going to call immigration so they could take her parents away and she would be left alone'.
“I never knew anything about that,” she said while speaking to KUVN on the day of her daughter's funeral. “My daughter never showed changes. I mean, there was never anything that gave me a sign that she was suffering from bullying.”
Carranza has spoken to investigators about what could have led to Jocelynn’s death, but she said there's 'nothing concrete' yet when it comes to answers.
The mom has further alleged that the school was aware of her daughter being bullied, explaining that investigators told her Jocelynn had been receiving counseling at school.
“It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,” Carranza said. “It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.
“(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."
The Gainesville Independent School District Police are now investigating the bullying allegations, while the Gainesville Independent School District has said it is 'deeply saddened' by the passing of one of its students.
In a statement to UNILAD, the school district added: "Our hearts go out to their family, friends, and the entire Gainesville community during this incredibly difficult time.
"At Gainesville ISD, the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priority. While we cannot comment on specific student matters due to privacy laws, we want to emphasize that we take all reports of bullying and student safety concerns very seriously. Our district follows strict protocols for investigating any allegations, and we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for every student.
"As our school community grieves, we are ensuring that counselors and additional support resources are available for students and staff who may need them. We also encourage
families to reach out to their school administrators if they or their child need any additional support. We remain committed to working with our students, staff, and families to uphold a culture of kindness, inclusion, and respect."
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Emily Brown