Update (1:56 p.m.)
Officials with the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation released an updated statement on the death of Sammy Teusch.
Officials said that as the investigation was active, the district "refrained from public comments to provide an objective environment for the police detectives and to allow the community to grieve."
"We have reviewed GPD’s statement, whose findings are consistent with the information gleaned from Greenfield-Central’s internal investigation," the statement read. Aside from directory information, student records are protected by the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA). Therefore, we cannot address many of the specific items related to this matter.
"Greenfield-Central takes all bullying concerns very seriously," the statement continued. "We have provided and will continue to provide a safe environment for students in our schools."
Original Story
GREENFIELD, Ind. -- Officials with the Greenfield Police Department confirmed the cause of death of a 10-year-old boy that occurred earlier this month and stated that there will be no criminal charges filed in relation to the case.
Ten-year-old Sammy Teusch was found dead on May 5. On Friday, the Hancock County Coroner's Office that Teusch killed himself by asphyxiation by strangulation, according to a news release from the Greenfield Police Department.
The department said it completed its investigation into Teusch's death and stated that there will not be any criminal charges filed with the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office.
According to previous reports, Teusch's family told FOX59/CBS4 that Teusch was known for his kindness and energetic personality. Teusch's parents said that he was bullied physically and emotionally at school.
Brian Hartman, the chief of police at the Greenfield Police Department, said it is a "sad and devastating time" for the Greenfield community. Hartman said his heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of the child, as well as the community and the first responders on scene.
An investigation into the child's death uncovered that there was some bullying occurring in Teusch's life, both in and out of school. Hartman said that school records show that the reported bullying incidents "were addressed." Hartman also said that it was found that bullying was taking place outside the school and "sometimes in a place where the child should have felt safest."
"Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a lot of blame and finger pointing," Hartman said in the statement. "Any time there is a tragic event, we, as a society, want to place blame on someone or something to help take away the pain we are experiencing and get some understanding. There is enough blame that we all probably own some of this.
"Bullying is an issue in our society, whether you are a child or an adult," Hartman continued. "No one is allowed to be different or have a different opinion anymore without someone somewhere being disrespectful and saying hurtful things... We have children who feel their lives are so bad that it is not worth living. We need to come together and give these children a life worth living."
Hartman said if individuals or their children believe they are being bullied at a Greenfield Community School and are afraid to report it to the school, they are asked to contact a school resource officer, who would follow it up with school administrators.