July 21, 2014

Johnathon Short-Scaff - bullied into suicide in Ohio

Johnathon
Johnathon Short-Scaff, age 13, died on July 16, 2014, at this home in Scioto County, Ohio.

Johnathon had committed suicide. He hung himself.

He had attended Minford Middle School in Minford, Ohio.

In the days prior to this death, this kid had been told by bullies at school to "go kill yourself". His eyes teared up when he heard this.

Prior to this, he had undergone years of nasty-ass picking at him over many issues including his size and weight. He loved sports but was mocked over his inability to excel at athletics. He recently went to a football practice and came back with bruises and a cut under his eye.

Apparently, he told the principal of his school about these bullying incidents but nothing was done at the time. He also hid the magnitude of this bullying from his family.

Johnathon weighed just 89 pounds and was exceptionally small for his age. Many
boys his age are 30 pounds heavier.

The Scioto County Sheriff is conducting an investigation.
Saint Jude, Saint of
difficult causes, pray for
Johnathon and for all
who are tormented by
bullying

The school district has refused to comment. The School District, of course, will deny any negligence or culpability in this issue. School Boards always do. They don't want to be sued. They frequently state that no one told them that anyone was being bullied. They also frequently state that they do not have the staff resources to babysit their pupils; they are there to teach them only.

The question arises - who raised the kids in Minford, Ohio? Wolves? You all let your nasty ass brats torment someone unto death?

To any teens who are reading this:
~ Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle. (Plato).
~ Don't contribute to another's downfall. Tomorrow or five years from now, it could be you who is being humiliated and teetering on the edge.
~There is nothing cool about human suffering.

If you are a teenager and you are feeling troubled, call these numbers:

~ In the U.S., for support on suicide matters call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org

~ In Britain, call the Samaritans at 08457 90 90 90, or see www.samaritans.org

~ In Canada, phone the "Kids Help Phone" at 1-800-0668-6868 or go to www.kidshelpphone.ca

~ In Australia, phone 13 11 14 (24 hour Telephone Crisis Support) or go to http://www.lifeline.org.au

Johnathon's loved ones are devastated over his senseless and tragic death. He will be forever mourned and remembered.

Johnathon is survived by many loving friends and family members including his mother, Trisha and his two sisters.

Pray for all who are tormented.

Pray that Johnathon is in heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I live in the general area, and distantly related to the Scaffs, I never met them, but my Grandmother knows their family.. The bullying here in Southern Ohio is awful, and you're right, WOLVES are raised here. My own problem with this bullying has happened to me, but its kind of hard to bully someone who went through something like this even 10x harder. There was another kid a few years ago that never made the news in Portsmouth Ohio, who wasnt ever mentioned or anything that haunts Portsmouth High School, His name was James Blackburn. Due to him being 13, bullied about his red hair, and his hyper attitude, they picked on him for that and told him to go "kill himself". It wasnt investigated at all, and then he went home and hung himself on Scioto trail in his TREE in FRONT of his yard. Later his shirts was banned that said "YOU LIED, HE DIED, WE CRIED." and "RIP JAMES BLACKBURN" and "STOP BULLYING." because to the schools "defense" he was never "bullied". This happened a few years ago... I know kids who came out and spoke about the bullying, some say themselves have done it, others say they watched it happen.. My closest friends still mourn his death and still blame themselves by simply ignoring him, which isnt bullying, and when they never called him names, they still blame themselves.. Minford and Portstmouth are no different, and I doubt nothing will happen to them for these boys' deaths.. RIP Jonathan and James..