Adriana Kuch death case: Heartbreaking petition highlights violent bullying trend at Central Regional
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
BERKELEY, NEW JERSEY: A 14-year-old girl died by suicide just two days after a video surfaced online showing the girl being brutally beaten by her peers inside the school on February 1. Adriana Kuch was thrashed and assaulted with a weapon by her schoolmates while she and her boyfriend were walking across the school hallway.
The tragic incident has led to authorities scrutinizing Central Regional High School in Berkeley Township for its policies as the school failed to notify police about the incident where a student allegedly assaulted another with a weapon. Moreover, even after the child appeared visibly brutally bruised following the altercation, the school did not take her to a hospital but instead sent her to the school nurse. The teen's heartbroken parents claimed the longtime bullying culminated in a hapless Kuch's suicide. Subsequently, Rachael O'Dea, the mother of another girl who was similarly assaulted last year in the same school, has filed a petition to seek justice.
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What did the petition say?
Furious at the authorities of Central Regional, O'Dea explained her frustration saying that the school was alerted on numerous bullying incidents against her daughter on several occasions. She stressed the school's negligence and irresponsibility which even prompted her to file a lawsuit nearly a year ago. "In January 2022, my daughter was jumped and physically assaulted by MULTIPLE girls at Central Regional," she said. "She had reported threats and their previous stalking to the school weeks before it happened and NOTHING was done! The attack was recorded and sent across social media. My family has had an open lawsuit against Central for almost a year due to their negligence and involvement," read the petition on Change.org.
O'Dea stated, "Now here we are almost a year later, and we have now lost a beautiful 14-year-old soul who was brutally attacked at Central Regional HS just days before taking her own life. A life stolen way too soon. Parents our kids are not safe!" She further asserted, "This school is too busy trying to save their own asses than do their job! The bottom line is the violence at Central Regional needs to STOP! There needs to be a change in administration, there needs to be more security, the school should not be able to solely label these incidents. The only thing Central Regional does is label these events as “hallway disturbances” so it does not reach the threshold of needing to involve the police and reports aren’t made. It gives them reason to punish the VICTIM."
'It's called ASSAULT!'
O'Dea urged, "Parents question EVERYTHING this school says! KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Students do better… stop hurting each other and if you see someone being hurt call 911!" She claimed, "It is not a fight, it is not an altercation, its not a hallway disturbance…..ITS CALLED ASSAULT." Furthermore, she urged everyone to sign the petition to help bring change when necessary.
"Please sign the petition below to help with the change needed. This petition stands for change in Central Regional Administration, More Security at Central Regional (hallway monitors/etc.), Amendments to the Juvenile Justice Reform to Reflect Better Victim Rights, Higher Accountability to Schools who are Negligent in the Violence of their School System, and More Oversight in Determining Thresholds of Student Actions; Especially those which are Physical in Nature," read the website's plea.