Brandon Bitner
Fourteen year old Brandon was a straight-A student with a core group of friends - A gifted violinist, and descried in the tribute video at the bottom of this page as one of the sweetest, kindest souls to ever walk our world.
An unassuming, polite young man, Brandon's sensitive nature made him an easy target for bullies at Snyder County High school.
In the early hours of the morning on 5th November 2010, Brandon left his family home and walked several miles to a busy intersection and threw himself in front of an oncoming tractor trailer.
There was little doubt that Brandon left home that morning with the intention of ending his life. His Mother Tammy found the suicide note that he had written in which he expressed his love for his closest family members and friends, but also explained what lead him to his decision to commit suicide - He could no longer endure the anti gay bullying he was experiencing at school. He went on to explain that the bullying was constant. He was called names including gay, girly, fag and geek and said that a recent humiliating event in school was the straw that broke the camel's back. Some of Brandon's friends would later reveal that the bullying sometimes took the form of physical violence and Brandon was often subjected to it in the hallways at school.
An unassuming, polite young man, Brandon's sensitive nature made him an easy target for bullies at Snyder County High school.
In the early hours of the morning on 5th November 2010, Brandon left his family home and walked several miles to a busy intersection and threw himself in front of an oncoming tractor trailer.
There was little doubt that Brandon left home that morning with the intention of ending his life. His Mother Tammy found the suicide note that he had written in which he expressed his love for his closest family members and friends, but also explained what lead him to his decision to commit suicide - He could no longer endure the anti gay bullying he was experiencing at school. He went on to explain that the bullying was constant. He was called names including gay, girly, fag and geek and said that a recent humiliating event in school was the straw that broke the camel's back. Some of Brandon's friends would later reveal that the bullying sometimes took the form of physical violence and Brandon was often subjected to it in the hallways at school.
He killed himself because of the bullying. It was not about race or gender, they bullied him for his sexual preferences and the way he dressed ~ Takara Jo Folk, a friend of Brandon.
Brandon's Mother said that her son suffered verbal abuse from other students for years and believes that if school officials had stepped in and done something about the bullying then Brandon may never have reached the conclusion that ending his life was preferable to living it.
Wesley Knapp, superintendent of the Midd-West School District, said he received no reports of Brandon’s bullying at the high school aside from a humiliating incident in the high school cafeteria days before Brandon’s death. He was still trying to figure out what happened when Brandon took his life, he said. Instead, the district lowered flags to half-staff in his memory and is planning a memorial.
Wesley Knapp, superintendent of the Midd-West School District, said he received no reports of Brandon’s bullying at the high school aside from a humiliating incident in the high school cafeteria days before Brandon’s death. He was still trying to figure out what happened when Brandon took his life, he said. Instead, the district lowered flags to half-staff in his memory and is planning a memorial.
I’ve been questioning myself. We can’t be too conscientious. If we see a kid who seems to be hurting, we need to single them out for help. The fact they don’t report it doesn’t let us off the hook. We need to reach out to kids. We’re going to try and do a better job.” ~ Superintendent Wesley Knapp