Jacob Rogers on Wednesday took his own
life after suffering years of bullying, NBC affiliate WSMV
reported.
Friends of Jacob, a senior at Cheatham
County Central High School in Ashland City, Tennessee, say the teen
suffered years of torment.
“He started coming home his senior
year saying 'I don't want to go back. Everyone is so mean. They
call me a faggot, they call me gay, a queer,'” friend Kaelynn
Mooningham told the network. “Jacob told me no one was helping
him. He constantly was going to guidance.”
Tim Webb, director of Cheatham County
Schools, said the school only knew of one instance of bullying.
“Subsequently after that, she ran
into the student and asked him if things were better and he indicated
that things were better,” Webb said.
Jacob, who lived with his
grandmother, quit going to school around Thanksgiving.
“It just doesn't have to make sense,”
Kaelynn said. “How many kids have to die before Cheatham does
something.” (A video report is embedded in the right panel of this
page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Several blogs, including Towleroad,
Joe My
God and The Stranger's Slog,
have started collecting donations to help cover expenses for Jacob's
funeral. You
can help by going here.