Home > Assault > Bullied 12-Year-Old Dies After Being Attacked By Two Classmates

Bullied 12-Year-Old Dies After Being Attacked By Two Classmates

March 4, 2013 at 10:25 am by Morbid

Delco, PA - Last month we reported on Bailey O’Neil, the sixth-grader who was placed in a medically induced coma after being beaten by two classmates at school. On Sunday, Bailey died – one day after his 12th birthday.

Back in January, Bailey was attacked by two classmates during recess at Darby Township School and suffered a concussion and a broken nose. Over the next two weeks, he began to have mood swings and would not eat. He was rushed to the hospital after he began vomiting and suffering seizures.

Doctors placed Bailey in a medically-induced coma in an attempt to stop the seizures, but his condition never improved and were complicated after he got pneumonia and had to have a blood transfusion. On Sunday, the day after Bailey turned 12, he passed away.

The following message was posted on the Building Hope for Bailey Facebook Page:

“I would like to thank everyone who has prayed and supported Bailey and his family!! Bailey has been the strongest toughest boy I know. He has fought this battle long and hard. There just wasn’t a way to fix this. I wish I could say he will get better but I can’t. Bailey has gone to be with God today I love you Jina Risoldi with all my heart and I will help you through this. Bailey I love you!!! Please keep Baileys family in your prayers!!!”

As for the two students who attacked Bailey, they were both suspended from the school but criminal charges have not been filed against them. At least not yet.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said they are still investigating and interviewing other students and school faculty who were present at the time Bailey was attacked and are trying to determine if the injuries Bailey received in the fight caused his seizures.

Tags: Bailey O'Neill, Bullying, Delco, Pennsylvania

87 Comments

Comments

V2 Cigs electronic cigarettes - Break Free From The Pack!

The views expressed in the comments are those of the comment writers and don't represent the views or opinions of D'D or its staff. Feel free to flag comments that may violate conditions outlined in our Disclaimer.

JGo555

Oh God, this is so sad. My condolences to the family. I hope those kids realize what they did & become examples.
http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Dean-Luke/1245322900 William Dean Luke

Put those little fucking neanderthals in Jouvy until they turn 18. Teach the little brutes a fuckin’ lesson they’ll NEVER fuckin’ forget!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Laura-Outhier/100000544692874 Laura Outhier

Those kids need to be held accountable for what they did. It might be harsh for their age but that’s just tough.
brandi

yaaaa me! Thanks morbid

that being said, poor baby. it broke my heart to know. it also stated that the parents removed his younger brother from school, afraid he would become a victim of bullying as well. these kids do need punishment.. but what kind? I’m hoping hearing of the little boys death was enough to make them hate themselves for what they did.
Buffettgirl

The way today’s little monsters feel entitled to do whatever they want because they’ve always got Mummy & Daddy to cover for them and excuse them? It’s just not likely that they’ll even believe that they caused Bailey’s death, let alone actually feel remorse for it.
Buffettgirl

I’m curious why some form of charges haven’t happened yet? At the very least the DA knows that there was a physical altercation and that shortly after this altercation Bailey became a very ill child…
Athena

It can be very difficult to determine what charges to file in a situation like this. If the kids were charged, they’d most likely just be released to their parents, so my guess is that the prosecution is holding off until investigators can paint a better picture. After all, it’s always better to get it right the first time. Prosecutors changing the charges repeatedly doesn’t look good when the case gets to trial.
EveryVillainIsLemons

Where are these bullies’ parents? They should at least pay Bailey’s funeral expenses. Maybe those parents would pay attention to their crotchfruits’ shitty treatment of their peers if they were hurt where it matters most–their wallets.
brandi

They said in one article, that the were still trying to determine if the initial attack is actually what caused Bailey’s seizures.
brandi

I know… one can hope tho right?? This world is heartless…
edd zackerly

hang the little shits too many of em you bleeding heart types can go, too
Buffettgirl

I know, but it seems to me a little common sense is required here… Bailey never had these issues before the beating did he? Then he declined rapidly over the next two weeks… seems pretty clear cut to me… I do realize that it could be a hideous coincidence, but I have trouble believing that it is.
Buffettgirl

I just figured simple assault charges could be filed and then if needed more could be added… You know, that “with additional charges pending” disclaimer we always hear. I’m just sick about it and it’s making me feel very mean today…
http://www.facebook.com/jamesballard73 James Ballard

You know what’s going to happen? Nothing will happen. We have been through this before. We will talk about how sad it is, how bullying is bad and what we should do, then we wont anymore. We will just move on and the kids that did it will go off an live their lives. It seems its how it always happens. For some reason the kids who caused these things NEVER get held accountable and the parents just make excuses for them. Sad situation, but true.
Andyman

How awful. Reminds me of when I was in 7th grade and this skate-punk bully in my neighborhood had it out for me. He told a bunch of people I was talking shit about him on the bus (I didn’t even know him.) Of course we didn’t ride the same bus because, well, he was a junior at a different high school. Well one day I was tired of being scared about it, and while walking home from school he picked a “fight” with me. Meaning: He grabbed my shoulder and as he pulled me toward him he punched me in the nose and broke it. I had to walk 45 minutes home from there with a broken nose to get to my house. Unfortunately, when a broken nose happens, you have very little time to re-set it. So I had to go in to have i re-broken and re-set a couple of days later. How absolutely pathetic of this fuck to do this to me when I did nothing to deserve it. I did hear later how he was gang raped by a bunch of skate punks later in life, which I have to admit brought a big FUCK YOU smile to my face years later. I get kids can be mean but to cause this kind of pain or death, and for what? It makes me sick. Often times it goes back to the parents and their lack of intelligence, child rearing skills, which makes me feel, to some degree, the parents, too should be held accountable. In some way.
http://www.facebook.com/minizilla David Richter

If these kids were adults, the charges would be fairly straightforward. Aggravated assault and probably manslaughter if not second degree murder. I agree, though, the DA wants a clearer picture of the situation before going forward. After all, there’s no statute of limitations on manslaughter or murder, so there’s plenty of time to investigate.
G.I.R.L.

Was he attacked with weapons? I wanna know how those children looked for something like this to happen.
OutOfBubbleGum

“medically induced coma”

Kids today and their new slang. Us olde timers called it, “The Weekend.”
Twisted1

My kids have been told from a very young age. No fighting UNLESS you have no choice. If there is a way out you take it. It’s better to talk your way out then to ruin your life or someone else’s by going to far. Not to mention what I will do if I find out you started it. A girl in middle school backed my daughter in a corner in the locker room and she had no way out. Only fight she ever has been in. (She kicked that little bullies butt too).
Andyman

Good for her! My middle sister is three years older than me but when another bully in my neighborhood (damn I can name three now that I think about it) started picking on me she leveled him. I bet he didn’t hear the end of that for a long time!
Athena

The thing about it is, criminal charges of any kind are not a common consequence of school-yard fights. I’m sure, initially, the DA wasn’t planning on filing any charges at all, but the boy’s subsequent hospitalization (and now death) have necessitated it.

When my little sister was in high school, she was a bit of a wild child. During gym class near the end of her sophomore year, she and a boy got into an altercation. The boy was crudely insulting her, so she spit at (or on?) him… and he knocked her out. Cold.

She incurred the worst damage (although not much at all, really), so she inquired about pressing charges, and the on-site police officer reminded her that she spit at the boy, so if she initiated it, they’d both be facing charges of 4th degree assault.
lespacino

“crotchfruit!” lol…thanks for the new term.
Twisted1

Ok, I am crying right now. That same daughter I mentioned just got mail from college admissions office to some school. (She is a Junior in HS). They grow up too fast.
techsupp0rt

I understand that these bullies are anonymous because they’re kids and all… but I think the parents names should be public. Maybe if the parents were held accountable for how horrible their offspring is, they’d be a bit more interested in making sure they aren’t such a horrible reflection of their shitty parents. Bullying starts at home.
Buffettgirl

And to me, I see this as wholey unfair to your sister – should she have spit on him? Of course not. Did he deserve it? YUP! Since when has society decided that it’s OK for a man to crudely insult a woman? There was a time where your sister would have been lauded for standing up to his crude insults by spitting on him. Today, it’s the excuse for why he isn’t in any form of trouble for opening his disgusting mouth and insulting her in the first place…
Athena

Spitting at (or on?) someone is every bit as vile and disgusting as crude insults, and it was knowing this that my sister chose that particular response. She wanted to evoke rage… she simply got a bit more than she reckoned on. Neither behavior was justified that day, and my sister learned an important lesson: Best to assume that any man who will use that kind of language toward a woman is prepared to do a lot worse than that.

But I digress. I just meant to expound anecdotally on the fact that most altercations at school – even physical – are dealt with internally rather than involving criminal charges. Good or bad? I don’t know. You hear stories like this and want the boys involved behind bars. But then you hear about a boy play-shooting with a pastry and can’t help but wonder if the overzealous administration wouldn’t have rather seen him handcuffed for his transgression.
Buffettgirl

Oh I agree it’s disgusting to spit at or on a person, I just have this old fashioned streak that says he kind of deserved it. I also totally agree with you on the handled internally thing and your viewpoint on the “pastry gun” incident. I was really just thinking this morning that once Bailey had to be placed in a medically induced coma, something legal should have happened with those two boys. I don’t work in criminal law, but I have worked in other areas of law in a receptionist-cum-secretary capacity and I am disappointed that this is the best way to proceed. But I DO understand why, it just frustrates me.
Levi Fallavollita

Hi I am 12 years old and the victim of
bullying. I am so sad to hear about this you see I was 10 when I was
bullied. I was so sad I wanted to die but instead I wrote a book The
Good The Bad and The Bullies based on my experience. I’ve been running anti-bullying workshops and Bailey O’Neil was featured
in one of my most recent presentations. His photo with the caption
“still fighting for his life after being beaten into a coma” Sadly now I must
change that to his birth date and date of death like the other victims I
feature. I want to know what will happen to those kids who did this to
him? How many more kids will die because of this type of thing? I am
writing another book this one has stories of victims who told me their
story. It is really sad and hard to hear about these stories but I know
they must be told. I hope something will change in our country where
kids can be safe in school and bullies will stop. My most important
message is to tell kids they can make a difference by standing up to
bullies. Only 10% will ever speak out. So sad. Levi
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anna-Hall-Grillot/100000054600337 Anna Hall Grillot

I was just wondering about the little guy yesterday. This was NOT the outcome I wanted. I am just sick for the parents, and any siblings and family. I am seriously getting teared up here. I would be beside myself.
LeaveMeBe

I have to mostly agree with Athena on this, if not take it one step further. Spitting is more vile and disgusting than hurling crude insults. I’m not condoning what the boy did by hitting her but can’t condone her spitting on him, either. Nothing makes me go into a blind rage faster than someone spitting on me. I’d rather be punched in the face.
cedric

I bet the little undomesticated animals responsible for this child’s murder only receive a wrist slap.
cedric

All that’s really needed to get the ball rolling on charging the lil Bastards responsible is an autopsy wi
Twisted1

I don’t know why they are waiting for that information. Under the law it makes no difference.

It is not a defense that a victim’s pre-existing physical condition (for example, alcohol- ism) made the victim peculiarly vulnerable to an assault; the defendant’s assault is considered to be the proximate cause of death, even if the assault would not have been fatal without the pre-existing condition. State v. Atkinson, 298 N.C. 673 (1979); State v. Hargett, 255 N.C. 412 (1961).
darsa

I’m right there with you! My kid’s a junior too, and we’ve been getting college info. Not making me feel TOO old… O.O
http://www.facebook.com/scottymac247 Scott McAllister

if i hit someone with my car and a week later they die from what i did to them i would get a manslaughter charge how is this any different
Minerva

The parents of the bully are saying how their child is being “persecuted” blah blah blah.

The father said his son isn’t guilty, the fight didn’t cause his death. The usual ignorance and denial that will allow this kid to grow up and end up on the recieving end of a lifetime financed by taxpayers in prison.
anosmia

It seems like bullying stories have gotten more and more into the “verbally harass and emotionally terrorize kids until they commit suicide” arena lately; I had almost forgotten that some bullies like to play fast and loose with their fists. That poor child…he was so very, very young. I feel heartbroken for his family. Losing their child in such a senseless way and knowing that justice will probably never be served…ach, it makes me understand why people become vigilantes.
bethied

Seriously. They need to be held accountable and like you said, become examples to crap like this isn’t allowed to happen.
Reen B

Levi, I want to commend you for speaking out about, and reaching out to, kids who are bullied. One of my daughters has had a different bully each year for as long as she’s been in school, because she is perceived as “different” (is the tallest, wears glasses, goes to G/T classes, etc.). But I’ve taught her that it’s more than OK not to blend in with the crowd, to do her own thing and be her own person and not let the haters win. Keep up your work writing and speaking, and thank you on behalf of the kids who fall prey to this ugly behavior.
Buffettgirl

You are a very brave young man Levi – I wish you the best of luck in the future with your campaign to end bullying, You have a very bright future ahead of you if you continue to take life’s ugly scenarios and take advantage of them to educate people. Well done!
Levi Fallavollita

Thank you for your support! Please tell others. If you Google my name you can find out more about my project. I may have the opportunity to go talk to Congress later this year. You can find this info on my website which you will find if you Google me. Doesn’t seem proper to put all that on here but it’s easy to find
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4BJIZT2OV527677D7PXZEH3UQY Pegaso

It was a hate crime, not “bullying”, and it was a not a “fight”, he was beaten down

the attackers were black, and this kind of attacks have become normal in Pa.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

A black boy attacked Bailey because he was white, or did a black boy attacked Bailey, who happened to be white? There’s a big difference.
Minerva

In 8th grade a boy kept calling me names and making crude remarks about me. I remember he pushed it so far that I got extremely angry and when he refused to stop and kept laughing, I kicked him in the balls. (Yes, every guy is probably cringing at that thought). I was just So sick of being picked on. Anyways, it was catholic school and the nuns reprimanded us both. I got suspended for a day. Needless to say though, I was never picked on again.

It’s sad but it seems the only way to stop being bullied is to stand up for yourself and be aggressive to the aggressor. Not the most politically correct concept but seems to be true in most cases.
Jack Deth

“Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said they are still
investigating and interviewing other students and school faculty who
were present at the time Bailey was attacked and are trying to determine
if the injuries Bailey received in the fight caused his seizures.”

Trying
to determine? Really? After being beaten by two other individuals, a
12 year old suddenly exhibits all the classical signs of suffering a
concussion. And the DA is still investigating if the attack was the
cause of death, even though death occurred some time after the attack? I
think Delaware County needs a new DA.

For the record, here are
the symptoms of a concussion as listed by the Mayo Clinic, along with
suggestion on what course of action to take:

Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include:

Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head

Temporary loss of consciousness

Confusion or feeling as if in a fog

Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event

Dizziness or “seeing stars”

Ringing in the ears

Nausea or vomiting

Slurred speech

Fatigue

Some symptoms of concussions may be immediate or delayed in onset by hours or days after injury:

Concentration and memory complaints

Irritability and other personality changes

Sensitivity to light and noise

Sleep disturbances

Psychological adjustment problems and depression

Disorders of taste and smell

Any of those symptoms sound familiar after reading the article?