VACAVILLE, CA (KTXL/CNN) – Parents of a middle schooler in California are speaking out after they say their daughter received a disturbing voicemail from a classmate that caused suicidal thoughts.
Antonia and Marcos, who didn’t want their last names used, say their 12-year-old daughter got a two-minute long voicemail Monday night from another 12-year-old at Vaca Pena Middle School.
In the voicemail, the boy makes such derogatory comments as “you deserve to die” and “she looks like she came out of a used condom.”
Antonia says her daughter came downstairs crying and fell to her knees.
"Do you know what it's like for your child to come down and say, ‘I'm done. I can’t do this anymore. I’m ready to end my life’?” the mother said.
The family says they called the Vacaville Police Department immediately and contacted the Vacaville Unified School District the next day, but they didn’t get the response they were hoping for.
“Why… when I made all the calls, nobody became active? Why, when me and my husband went to the school and talked to them, nothing was done?" Antonia said.
Police say their youth services department will refer the boy who left the voicemail to a diversion program where he’ll be educated on bullying in hopes of avoiding the criminal court system.
The school district says they are taking the situation very seriously and are working with the police department.
“Bullying or any feeling a student has that they aren't being treated well or respectfully, they should be able to share that with an adult,” said Kimberley Forrest, the assistant superintendent of Student Services.
The district has staff on hand to deal with bullying head-on, but Forrest says communication is key and parents need to talk to their kids, whether their children are being bullied or doing the bullying.
“Throughout their upbringing, talk about how to treat people, what to say to people, what's appropriate and what's not,” Forrest said.
The victim’s family says while they were unhappy with the initial response, they’re relieved that something is being done, and they have advice for other parents.
"Find out what's going on. Get to the bottom of it. Be involved,” Antonia said.
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