After being pushed to harm herself, Kelaia Turner doesn’t seem to find peace even at the hospital as bullies invade her ICU room. Many have demanded justice, wanting action against her teacher, Olivia Bennett.
The then 12-year-old Kelaia Turner suffered more than a year of physical and verbal abuse from her classmates for her racial background. The bullies often mocked her for her accent and hairstyle.
Students from the Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville often pulled her hair, threw her stationaries installs, and passed racist comments towards Turner and her family.
‼️This is OLIVIA BENNETT the teacher who HELPED BULLY 12 year-old KELAIA TURNER into hanging herself https://t.co/CXaGQg0Ask pic.twitter.com/SQMyS5X1eU
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) December 4, 2024
Unfortunately, Turner thought that self-harm was the only escape as she hung herself in 2023 and appeared deceased for over 8 minutes before the paramedics rushed her to emergency care.
Later, doctors reported that the child had suffered from severe brain damage, leading to a loss of mobility. Turner has remained in a coma since, but her mother, Ty Turner, believes that her daughter will recover soon.
Turner’s parents filed a lawsuit against the middle school, and an investigation revealed the name of the teacher who had helped the bullies. The sixth-grade Social Studies teacher, Olivia Bennett, was identified as the culprit.
Hold the teacher and the school responsible for this beautiful girl’s suicide responsible as well.
— hana 🐡 (@spacechannel500) December 5, 2024
Full name: Olivia Bennett
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 864-452-0865
Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School https://t.co/yuSN0cmOAX pic.twitter.com/hLbz8H9RN3
According to students and officials, Bennett often joined hands with the bullies and joked about Turner’s physical features.
The bullies started calling her ‘roach’ and ‘built like a man,’ and the teacher often acknowledged the bullies and asked, “Where’s the roach today?“
After Turner got into a violent altercation with her classmates, the teacher suggested suspending the victim rather than the harasser.
Despite her previous actions, Olivia Bennett is listed as a teacher in the institution, and Turner’s parents, as well as other students, have demanded a proper explanation from the school.
Another teacher, John Teer, allowed students to play racially suggestive songs!
As the investigation continued, witnesses revealed that students targeted Turner by playing offensive YouTube videos and songs on several occasions.
Further, John Teer allowed his students to play “The Black People Song” aloud during break time and class hours. Such actions had a profound impact on Turner and her self-image.
Despite the frequency of the actions, neither Teer nor Bennett intervened, and the bullying continued to become more violent.
Before Turner took the drastic step, students had poured water on her clothes and discarded them in the trash. The child used a belt to propel herself before her mother discovered her lifeless body.
Justice for #KelaiaTurner pic.twitter.com/JXYr4uLnoc
— Ivan (@IvanSteff) December 4, 2024
Meanwhile, Bennett and Terr continued their professional careers as the teachers started a new school year. Bennett began teaching students and based her classroom on Spaceship Earth.
Moreover, the South Carolina native began using the name ‘Grace’ on the middle school’s website. Teer, on the other hand, had left the facility and began working as a senior recruiter at Vecturs.
Previously, Teer had graduated with an accounting degree from Furman University and held roles at Morris Business Solutions.
Due to the recent backlash, Teer has deleted his social accounts, including his LinkedIn. The teachers have received hateful comments, as one wrote, “Teer and Bennett need their teaching certificate removed.“
Similarly, the lawsuit stated that the bullied had entered the ICU, where Turner was receiving treatment, and snapped several pictures when her mother wasn’t present.
They started spreading false rumors about the victim’s injuries. Turner’s mother expressed that she would take legal action against everyone involved in the case.
Additional Information
- Kelaia Turner had plans to change schools before the unfortunate incident. Currently, the child requires an automated wheelchair for movement and has displayed minimal recovery in nearly two years.
- A close family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to cover Turner’s medical and psychiatric expenses. Within days, the initiative has received over $15k in donations.
