Family mourning the death of 14-year-old Peabody boy they say was bullied at school
The family of a young teen in Peabody wants to raise awareness about the dangers of bullying after the loss of their son, Jason Bernard.
'We want the school to do better, we want the community, the parents to teach their kids the effects that bullying has, Jason was 14 years old, he was loved by everyone, and words hurt, and it caused his death,' said Cely Rosario, Jason's sister.
Jason's family is heartbroken after they say he took his own life last weekend.
His sister says he was bullied at school multiple times.
'He would complain, he spoke to his teachers, his coaches, his friends about it, mom went to the school a couple of times, he went into counseling to get the support he needed, it didn't stop,' said Rosario. 'He feared getting on the bus, my mom had to bring him to school, his dad brought him to school a couple of times because he wanted to avoid these people.'
The Peabody school community is also heartbroken.
Many parents say they're upset with how bullying is handled and question whether more could have been done at school.
'That's the number one thing I teach my kids is, do not bully, you know if you see someone getting bullied, stand up, say something,' said Melissa McKenna, a Peabody parent. 'But now I think they understand the severity of it, it's not a joke.'
McKenna lives near Jason's family and hopes to collect gift cards for them as the community comes together to support them.
'Jason was funny, Jason loved to bake, Jason loved to play track, do track, he loved to be around his friends, he was silly, he loved his cats, he loved his mom,' said Rosario.
His mother was in tears and too upset to speak about the sudden loss of her son.
Jason had six siblings, and his family now promises to keep his memory alive, while they show the world how dangerous bullying can be.
'He was loved by every single one of us, he showed every single one of us love all the time,' said Rosario.
The community is planning a memorial vigil Friday night to honor Jason near his home on Veterans Memorial Drive in Peabody at 6:30 PM.
Boston 25 News has reached out to Peabody school district leaders several times as well as the mayor's office but has not yet heard back.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.
Texting hotline aimed to help struggling teens reaches its 10,000th conversation
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers that are available 24/7 to provide support for youth and adults who are in any kind of emotional crisis. Using the 988 Lifeline is free and confidential.
To contact the Lifeline, call or text 988.
More information can be found here.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
43 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Man kills fiancee pregnant with twins, CA officials say. ‘Unimaginable grief'
A man has been charged after being accused of killing his fiancee who was pregnant with twins, California officials said. On June 8, Ernie Victor Solis, 40, of Napa was accused of killing his 33-year-old fiancee, Hailey Privett, according to a Facebook post by the district attorney's office and the Press Democrat. 'Hailey was a source of strength, love, and laughter. She worked tirelessly to provide a safe, loving home for her children and gave them everything she could, even on her hardest days,' according to a GoFundMe page. Solis is accused of killing Privett and her unborn children in her home, prosecutors said. Privett was the adoptive mother of a 10-year-old girl and a 6-year-old girl, and she was in the process of adopting a foster son, her cousin Elise Maloney told the Napa Valley Register. 'Hailey was such a light and such an amazing mother, first and foremost,' she told the outlet. 'She was a light in this world, a beautiful soul. She dedicated her life to being a fantastic mother. She deserves for the world to know the kind of life that was lost.' Solis was charged with 'murder and faces the special allegation of multiple murder,' a charge that can result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, officials said. Officials didn't specify how Privett was killed or what led to the attack. 'Her life was tragically cut short, leaving behind not only unimaginable grief but also the deep and daily needs of the young ones she cherished more than anything,' the GoFundMe page said. Solis is scheduled to reappear in court June 17, officials said. Napa is about a 50-mile drive northeast from San Francisco.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Retired Gwinnett couple put out warning after being scammed out of $800K in crypto scheme
A retired Gwinnett County couple says they lost $802,000 in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam, and now they are speaking out to warn others. Jerry and Mindy Dunaway thought they had done everything right. They saved for retirement, lived carefully, and looked forward to their golden years. Then a message on WhatsApp changed everything. 'It just gets into a general conversation,' Jerry said. 'And it's like, 'Oh, have you thought about crypto?'' The 74-year-old began investing through what appeared to be a legitimate cryptocurrency platform. TRENDING STORIES: Metro Atlanta parents 'made a dumb decision' by giving 1-year-old beer, report says SCOTUS rules on lawsuit from Atlanta family whose home was wrongly raided by the FBI Family finds someone else buried alongside their loved one in southwest GA cemetery At first, it worked. He could withdraw funds. So, he invested more. 'They show that you have money in, that you've made money,' he said. 'This is a no-brainer. You invest more.' But behind the scenes, Gwinnett County police believe scammers were using fake platforms and sophisticated malware that mimicked real transactions. Jerry thought he was growing his retirement. In reality, the money was gone. Over several months, the Dunaways lost $802,000, according to a police report. 'We did all the right things all of our lives, and then this happens,' Mindy said. The FBI said scams like this one have stolen more than $50 billion nationwide in the past four years. Seniors, they said, are especially vulnerable. Jerry said the shame nearly kept him silent. 'I'm willing to take the embarrassment to get the word out,' he said. 'People have to know.' Now the couple is warning others to be wary of unsolicited messages, even friendly ones. According to the FBI: Don't trust investment advice from strangers online. Verify all platforms through trusted sources. Never send money to anyone you haven't met in person. 'This stuff has to be more public,' Jerry said. 'More awareness. People need to start pulling together to better protect individuals.' Their family has launched a GoFundMe to help with immediate expenses after the crippling loss.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman in custody after young mother killed in local park
CLEVELAND (WJW) — A 23-year-old woman is now in custody, accused of shooting and killing a young mother at Mill Creek Falls in the early hours of Wednesday morning. According to officials, Lavia M. Paul, 23, of Cleveland, was taken into custody Wednesday evening and faces murder charges. The victim's family tells FOX 8's Stacey Frey they are not familiar with the name of the suspect. Massive egg recall hits Ohio Walmart stores Cleveland Metroparks police are expected to share more information during a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Kiara Jackson. The Cleveland Metroparks Police Department said Jackson was shot and killed near the drive into Mill Creek Falls, off Broadway Avenue, shortly before 4 a.m. on Wednesday. How to get your unclaimed funds in Ohio, step by step The victim's family told FOX 8 News that Jackson has two children. The family said Jackson was at the park with a group of people before the deadly shooting. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for funeral expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
