A 12-YEAR-OLD boy took his own life because he couldn't bear "pain and torture" from kids at his school, according to his parents.

Debbey Fritchley walked into her son Eli's room on November 28 and found him dead in a suicide they believe stemmed from bullying.

CRIES FOR HELP

Eli was in seventh grade at Cascades Middle School, where he played trombone in marching band and wasn't afraid to be himself, which included being gay.

“He was told because he didn’t necessarily have a religion, and he said he was gay, that he was going to go to hell. They told him that quite often,” Debbey told WKRN.

His mom said he often painted his nails and wore the same SpongeBob sweatshirt, doing laundry each day to make sure his clothes were clean.

“I think probably because he was in the same clothes every single day that they used that as a weapon,” Debbey said.

“It was really abusive. I don’t think it was ever physical. I think it was just words, but words hurt. They really hurt,” Eli's father Steve added.

The Fritchleys say their son opened up to them about the bullying but they didn't know how badly he was suffering.

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They never expected that the ridicule from peers might lead him to suicide.

“He didn’t care, or at least we thought he didn’t care, and that’s what’s really difficult for us because we thought he didn’t care,” Debbey said.

SCHOOL'S RESPONSE

School leaders at Eli's Wartrace, Tennessee, middle school said they were "shocked" and "devastated" by news of his passing.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tammy Garrett said counselors and support teams were brought in to help students and staff cope.

A district statement said the school system planned to work with Eli's family to look into how to better support "social and emotional learning" in schools, with a focus on increasing support at the middle and high school levels.

“Raising caring, kind, resilient children is all of our jobs, and parents are not alone," the superintendent's statement read.

"At Bedford County Schools we strive to provide positive learning environments with positive affirmations for all children, every day."

ELI'S LEGACY

As Eli's parents and five brothers mourn the loss of the compassionate, gentle 12-year-old, they are raising awareness about the sometimes tragic outcome of bullying.

The Fritchleys say they feel they failed their son and they want to stop another family from experiencing their pain.

“I honestly think education, education, education for everyone where bullying is concerned, because it is a problem. Not just in Bedford County. It’s a problem everywhere," Debbey said.

A foundation is in the works to honor Eli and help families and children who are dealing with bullying.

Tens of thousands of dollars in donations poured into a GoFundMe launched for the effort last week.

"As parents and grandparents, it is our responsibility to teach our children to love, not hate; to be kind, not mean; to understand that we are all different in our own ways and that is OK," fund organizer and family friend Shondelle Lewis wrote.

"Hug your children and your grandchildren, tell them this world doesn't have to be so full of evil because in the end, evil never wins."

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.

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