An 11-year-old girl from Gainesville, Texas, tragically took her own life earlier this month, following a prolonged period of bullying related to her family’s immigration status, according to her mother. Jocelynn Rojo Carranza’s life ended on February 8, after she sustained fatal injuries at her home on February 3. Despite the efforts of doctors at a Dallas hospital’s intensive care unit, her condition deteriorated over the following days.
Jocelynn’s father, Ernesto Alonso Rojo, had initiated a GoFundMe campaign while she was still alive, hoping to support her medical treatment. After her passing, he expressed his heartbreak and despair in a series of updates to the fundraiser. He stated that despite his grief, he had to continue for the sake of his other children. A separate GoFundMe was also launched by Jocelynn’s aunt.
According to Marbella Carranza, Jocelynn’s mother, the young girl had been subjected to relentless bullying by her sixth-grade classmates at Gainesville Intermediate School, located about 70 miles north of Dallas. The taunts were reportedly centered around Jocelynn’s Hispanic heritage, with threats from other students that they would report her parents to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Towards the end of her life, Jocelynn was attending counseling sessions once or twice a week due to the bullying.
Marbella Carranza also revealed that the bullies would mock Jocelynn by suggesting that she would be left alone after her parents were deported. The grieving mother expressed her sorrow and loss, stating that she had hoped for a miracle that never came.
The family is now calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to Jocelynn’s untimely death. The Gainesville Police Department confirmed that the incident is under active investigation, and the allegations of bullying are being looked into by the Gainesville Independent School District Police Department.
In a letter sent to families on Valentine’s Day, the school district acknowledged Jocelynn’s death, expressing their condolences to the family. The letter also encouraged parents to discuss the incident with their children and provide them with an opportunity to express their feelings.
The school district also released a statement outlining their anti-bullying policies, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring a safe and comfortable learning environment for all students. They assured that they take reports of bullying very seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy in place.
However, Jocelynn’s mother expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s response to the bullying, stating that while it seemed the school was aware of the situation, she was never informed.