Disabled 11-Year Old Boy Commits Suicide Because of Bullying

Sad and sickening news out of Toronto, from TheStar.com

At 8, Mitchell Wilson’s mother died of cancer.  The following year, he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, an incurable, degenerative  disease that ravages muscles, leaving its victims paralyzed. Not long after, predatory bullies picked him up on their radar.

While out for a walk this past November, he was attacked by a 12-year old from his elementary school.  The older boy took Mitchell’s Ipod, then smashed his face into the pavement hard enough to bust several teeth.

“He was never the same after the mugging,” said Mitchell’s father, Craig Wilson, who found his son’s lifeless body on Sept. 6 — a plastic bag tied around the young boy’s head — when he went to wake him up for what would have been his first day of Grade 6. “Ultimately it shattered his life.”

Although the older boy was arrested, charged with assault, and removed from Westcreek  Public School, his friends remained … and began a vicious campaign of harassment, including following him after school to threaten and taunt him about his slow walk.

Mitchell began a rapid downward spiral into depression, suffering from panic attacks and emotional outbursts.  According to his father and stepmother, attempts at psychiatric therapy  didn’t take.  As summer ran its course, their child’s condition worsened.  He announced that he’d rather kill himself than go back to school….

Hours before he took his life, Mitchell was served a subpoena to appear in court to testify against the boy he was terrified of- his attacker. (Now, since Mitchell wont be in court to testify, the case against his assailant will likely be dropped).

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It doesn’t get any more heart-wrenching than this. My deepest most sincere condolences go out to Mitchell’s family and loved ones.

~Adam