Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

Staten Island Teen Bullied Before Taking Her Life

By COLLEEN CURRY | ABC News – Wed, Jan 4, 2012

Bullying played a part in the death of a 15-year-old girl from New York's Staten Island who walked in front of an oncoming bus with a suicide note in her pocket, according to her relatives.

Amanda Cummings, a sophomore at New Dorp High School, wrote Facebook messages in the weeks before her death that her realtives said showed a distressed girl crying out for help. Cummings died Monday from injuries sustained in the bus crash on Dec. 27.

Her uncle, Keith Cummings, told ABC-owned station WABC that bullying contributed to her suicide.

"Amanda begged her mother not to say anything for the simple fact that she'd be picked on more, or they'd make fun of her more," Cummings said.

He said that girls at Cummings' high school had been tormenting Amanda, and continued to leave inappropriate comments on her Facebook profile even as she lay in a coma at Staten Island University Hospital.

The bullying was apparently never reported to the school. New Dorp High School did not immediately return calls from ABC News seeking comment about Cummings' case or its bullying policies.

The note found in Cummings' pocket after the crash, according to her relatives, spoke of a failed relationship with a boyfriend, which family members believe added to the girl's stress. In the note, Cummings said, according to her relatives, that she could not live without the boyfriend. The New York Police Department confirmed that a note was found on Cummings at the time of the crash, but would not comment on its contents nor on the accusations of bullying in Cummings' death.

In the weeks and months leading up to her death, Cummings repeatedly expressed her unhappiness on her Facebook profile, saying she felt alone and sick of her life, and that she wanted to die.

"I'll just go f**k myself, just like u said baby, then ill go kill myself, with these pills, this knife, this life has already done half the job. -___-," she wrote in early December. The messages of despair stretched back at least to September.

Cummings' suicide is the latest in a string of recent youth suicides, including those of Massachusetts high school student Phoebe Prince and Rutgers University freshmen Tyler Clementi, who was bullied for his romantic encounter with another man. Prince hanged herself in a closet, and Clementi jumped of the George Washington Bridge in New York, bringing widespread outcry for schools to crack down on bullying.

Since Clementi's death, New Jersey has lead states around the country to enact tougher anti-bullying prgorams, including stricter punishments and better preventative education, in school districts.

Editors' Picks

Explore Related Content

1 - 4 of 12

prevnext

Bullying suicide
WEWS-Cleveland
Ex-student in Rutgers webcam case gets …
Associated Press
Noon: Teen girl killed by train
WEWS-Cleveland Videos
Tyler Clementi's Brother: Rooming with …
The Atlantic Wire

Today on Yahoo!

1 - 4 of 20

prevnext

All Comments

Top Locations Encino Philadelphia New York Phoenix St Louis Houston Boston Washington Dallas Chicago

1,948 comments

Dwayne • 4 mths ago
The problem is these schools won't let the kids deal with the bullies now days. When I was in school and there was a bully, somone kicked their #$%$ or a group of kids got together and kicked the bullies #$%$. Now, if someone hits you and you defend yourself, you both get suspended. Who ever thought of this stupid rule?
- Robert B 4 mths ago
  I never saw a group of kids get together and stand up to a bully. The victims of bullies are usually very much alone.
- Susan 4 mths ago
  Sadly, I can remember as far back as the late 80s watching someone being punished for being physically attacked by someone else. The kid never even threw a punch, yet he was suspended for fighting, along with his attacker. Unfortunately, being suspended for defending yourself (or in that case, just being hit and not fighting back) is nothing new.
- Susan 4 mths ago
  Adding to my previous comment, this habit of punishing the victim even if the victim never fights back, has to stop.
More

Reply
NONE 123 • Shenandoah, Iowa • 4 mths ago
My heart goes out to the poor bus driver who will be haunted by this for the rest of his/her life.
- David 4 mths ago
  she committed a very selfish act
- Steven J 4 mths ago
  Who cares? I care as much for the bus drivers as anyone else involved with the school. Absolutely zero!
- Sad 4 mths ago
  I agree, the people hurt are the bus driver and the parents of the kid.
More

Reply
qwerty • 4 mths ago
All these articles about bullying and people killing themselves is really upsetting. Being only 5'4, 115 lbs in high school, was constantly being bullied by football players twice my size, one in particular. Brushed it off for a few months, politely asking him to stop, but it did not. After getting slammed into the metal bleachers by the kid playing hockey in PE class (the instructor did nothing), with a running start, with all the strength I had, I cracked a plastic hockey stick across his forehead knocking him on the ground in front of everyone. (If one kid twice the other kids size, no such thing as a fair fight. Had to get him when he least expected it, with a lot of witnesses - prefect timing). Of course got tossed out, went to school with my father the next day, told the principal about the bullying, and this was the only way it was going to stop. I apologized to the school administrators for disrupting the class, but I did NOT apologize to the bully. I told the principal if the bully leaves me alone, there would be no more trouble. Myself (and my friends) NEVER got bullied again. My father, who I initially thought would be upset, told me he was proud that I stuck up for myself.

Bullying is a serious issue, and unfortunately in most cases, it requires drastic measures to get RESPECT. Now with this social networking bills&*t, its at a whole other level. My thoughts & prayers go out to this girl's family...
- Patsy 4 mths ago
  Right on...sometimes in your life, you gotta go Buford Pusser...
- cobra99 4 mths ago
  niiiiiiice! you rock bro
- Jess 4 mths ago
  Exactly!
More

Reply
EggNog • 4 mths ago
Is anyone surprised this has happend again. people are cruel in person, but on-line they are worse.
- pierresplace 4 mths ago
  They also think that they're anonymous and un-traceable online. Society needs public prosecutions to show that the laws we have on the books are not to use up paper but to control the unlawful behaviors that some human animals still exhibit.
- A Yahoo! User 4 mths ago
  In my day this stuff was settled by meeting in a field, having it out one on one to where respect was made by a few punches and a roll on the ground. The next week we were friends hanging out in one of the several tree forts we had made around the neighborhood! That was my day, but I feel it worked. People hide behind their computers and are told not to fight. Unless of course you take your child to a hockey game where everyone screams for a fight! Such a hypocritical society we live in! My heart felt thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.
- Mike D 4 mths ago
  Very true, EggNog. It's a lovely li'l syndrome people like to call being an "Internet Tough Guy".
  
  Gotta admit, I'm glad I'm long out of high school. I'm not sure I'd want to go through that crap nowadays, with all the stuff I hear about teachers. But then.... I guess I am glad I did go to a small private school,
More

Reply
A Yahoo! User • 4 mths ago
"He said that girls at Cummings' high school had been tormenting Amanda, and continued to leave inappropriate comments on her Facebook profile even as she lay in a coma at Staten Island University Hospital."

What demented children they must be to leave those kinds of messages on a child's FB when the child is in coma!!
- Paul 4 mths ago
  Seriously...since you know who these kids are, can't you go after them now with a lead pipe?
- JB 4 mths ago
  More importantly, as a father of 2 girls, what kind of worthless parents are so uninvolved in their childrens life they don't even realize their children are performing these horrendous acts. My heart goes out to the family of Amanda, and as for the girls guilty of bullying, they should be charged with assisted suicide as adults. Maybe it will be a wake-up call to both children and adults that your actions have unintended consequences for youself, those your bullying, and the people you care about.
- Hal 4 mths ago
  Paul: Your answer to violence is more violence? As they said in the 1960s, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." We know where you stand.
More

Reply
Guess My Name • 4 mths ago
Its disturbing to me that while she was in a comma people were still writing bad things about her on facebook. Shame on these youths. May god bless her and her family.
ThomasF • Austin, Texas • 4 mths ago
Where has the sympathy and compassion, in the world, gone? Why don't parents teach kids to be respectful and to have integrity. Schools shouldn't have to "crack" down on anything but rather parents should return to PARENTING. A beautiful young lady killed herself for lack of parenting(the bullies) and for lack of compassion. R.I.P. little angel, I hope you find some peace.
katec • 4 mths ago
Very sad, not just for the girl and her family, but also for the poor bus driver who will now have to live with this tragedy the rest of his life.
Kat • Zelienople, Pennsylvania • 4 mths ago
"...girls at Cummings' high school had been tormenting Amanda, and continued to leave inappropriate comments on her Facebook profile even as she lay in a coma..." This really makes me sick.
Christopher G • Kansas City, Missouri • 4 mths ago
thats sad she looked like a beautiful girl :(
A Yahoo! User • 4 mths ago
The parents need to report the children that posted those comments on FB.
Kara • Ashburn, Virginia • 4 mths ago
This is very sad, but I think Amanda's parents should have intervened, regardless of what Amanda herself wanted. If she was that distressed and it was going on for that long, then I don't understand why the adults in her life didn't get involved and either alert the school or take her out of the school - ?
Imagine • Jackson, Mississippi • 4 mths ago
I was bullied in school. The difference was that at 16 I was almost 6 ft tall and 180lbs. I didn't put up with too much of the bullying. I pray that there are teens out there that are willing to stand up for the "outcasts". There is a hero inside everyone of us that is waiting to be let out. May Amanda Rest In Peace...
Kathleen • 4 mths ago
This is why I think facebook is not a good thing for teens. You should have to be an adult to use it. Kids can be so cruel to each other for no reason or for really dumb reasons. This story is very sad and happening way too much these days.
Rose • 4 mths ago
Bullies are often soul dead losers who only feel something when they make others as miserable as they are inside. Bullies should be expelled from school and made to get psychiatric help and a clean bill of mental health before they are allowed back in school.
Happy customer • 4 mths ago
Just heard on the news, case in florida, kid stabbed his bully to death has been set free, all charges dismissed!
WatchDog • 4 mths ago
Reality is that girls actually bully far more than boys. Girl's bullying is rarely taken seriously as with boy's bullying.
Tell All • 4 mths ago
Facebook also so needs to step in and ban people who use to to harass or threaten others.
M • 4 mths ago
You can control who writes on your Facebook.
Personally, I see no reason to have an account there in the first place.
mohammed the molester • Oxford, Massachusetts • 4 mths ago
I think the people who still found it nessesary to still keep writing hurtful messages on this poor girls facebook should get a dose of their own medicine from the public! And see how long their facebook page stays active!

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]