Four New Jersey students are facing charges in connection to the violent beating that caused a 14-year-old girl to end her life.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said on Friday that one of the teens was charged with aggravated assault, another with harassment, and two more were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. None of their names have been released.
“Each juvenile and their guardian was served with a copy of their complaint and are released pending future court appearances,” he said.
Adriana Kuch, 14, was attacked by several students in a Central Regional High School hallway on Feb. 1 while walking with her boyfriend. The assailants threw a drink at her, pulled her hair, hit her with a water bottle, and pushed her into lockers.
Video of the altercation was posted online in an attempt to further humiliate Kuch. According to Kuch’s father, one of the girls who recorded the fight sent a text to Kuch making fun of her for getting her “*ss whooped” just hours before the teen was found dead in her Berkeley Township home.
Michael Kuch told the New York Post that bullying played a significant part in his daughter taking her life, and the harassment continued after her death. He told the outlet that one of the girls involved has continued posting disrespectful posts on Snapchat.
He’s also criticizing the school’s handling of the situation and believes the continued bullying led to his daughter’s suicide. Other parents back Kuch’s claim, saying that bullying is a pervasive issue at the high school.
More than 200 students held a rally for Kuch on Friday in protest of the school’s lack of response.
