The parents of 10-year-old Autumn Bushman, who died by suicide on March 21, are speaking out about the heartbreaking changes they noticed in her before her death.
Autumn, a fourth-grader at Mountain View Elementary in Roanoke, had once been energetic and free-spirited, but in the weeks leading up to her death, she became withdrawn—sleeping more, smiling less, and dressing in dark clothing. Her parents, Mark and Summer Bushman, say she was targeted for standing up against bullying, and that harassment continued even after they reported it to the school. “She would stand up for other kids,” said her mother. “That may have made her more vulnerable.”
The school said it is reviewing the circumstances but couldn’t comment due to privacy laws, stating, “All reports of bullying and student conflict are taken very seriously.”
The Bushmans believe the bullying extended beyond school, amplified by digital devices. “There’s no way out,” said Mark. “It happens all the time.”
The Roanoke community has been devastated by Autumn’s death. A family friend, Cher Nelson Johnson, shared a video tribute, calling Autumn a kind and compassionate girl lost too soon.
Autumn’s family has invited the public to her visitation and funeral this weekend, urging others to talk to their children about bullying and to help prevent similar tragedies.