Hope Witsell 'sexting' suicide: parents sue school district

Hope Witsell, an eighth grader at the Hillsborough County School District, hanged herself in her bedroom on Sept. 12, 2009.

Hope had texted a partially nude picture of herself to a boy, a mistake her parents say their daughter regretted and wanted to move past.

The photo was passed along to other classmates, following which she was picked on and bullied for months. Hope was 13 when she took her life two years ago.

Hope showed signs of being suicidal
Hope’s parents, Donna and Charles Witsell, have filed a lawsuit against the school system, accusing officials of failing to take appropriate action after learning the teen had suicidal thoughts.

Hope Witsell, an eighth grader at the Hillsborough County School District, hanged herself in her bedroom on Sept. 12, 2009.

The Witsells filed the lawsuit against the Hillsborough County School Board this week in federal court in Tampa, Florida, claiming school personnel saw signs that Hope was distraught and could commit suicide.

The lawsuit states that school officials knew Hope was the victim of "extraordinary ridicule and harassment" after she texted topless picture of herself to the boy she liked, but they didn’t take proper steps to prevent the suicide.

Teen signed ‘no-harm contract’ a day before her death
According to the lawsuit, prior to her death, Hope met Jodi Orlando, a social worker, at Beth Shields Middle School who had her sign a "no-harm contract," in which she promised not to end her life. Hope was sent to see Orlando after another staff member saw shallow cuts on her legs and became concerned.

The social worker counseled the distraught teen alone, and never told the school's principal and school psychologist.

"Orlando squandered the trust, confidence and critical knowledge bestowed exclusively upon her," the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also claims that school officials never notified Hope’s parents that she was suicidal or about shallow cuts seen on the teen's thigh. It’s alleged that the parents found the contract in her bedroom after her death.

"It is a requirement. It is a moral responsibility," Donna said. "There needs to be concrete procedure, protocol in place and people to be accountable for our children's lives."

No-harm contracts often don't work
Echoing Donna’s opinions, psychologist Dr. Valerie McClain said, "Certainly, from an ethical standpoint and a legal standpoint, that parent has a right to know."

According to her, parents need to be told, and that so-called no-harm contracts often don't work.

"They're in distress. They may say they're not going to hurt themselves but if you don't know for sure. It's good to, maybe, consult with a colleague, another mental health expert or another person who knows the person," she said.

Meanwhile, Linda Cobbe, a spokeswoman for the school district, has declined to comment on pending litigation.