Local authorities in Butler County, Ohio, are investigating a disturbing case of online harassment at Madison Local Schools, where a 12-year-old boy reportedly faced repeated threats from fellow students, including alleged plans of physical harm.
The harassment reportedly began after a breakup and escalated to repeated calls, texts, FaceTime messages and a group chat where the children allegedly plotted to kill him.
Screenshots reviewed by authorities show the group discussed weapons including a pocketknife, baseball bats and a gun.
Courtney Sorrell, the boy’s aunt, said, “Her and her friends were targeting my nephew individually at first. Just calling, texting, FaceTiming, and harassing him to the point he would block one person’s number, and then they would reach out from another number. They would say disgusting things like how he’s hated and he needs to just go kill himself.”
The children involved were suspended for 10 days, but the family argues that the school district failed to adequately address the threat.
“We didn’t want to come to social media,” Sorrell said. “We want the kids to know you can’t make these threats and bully someone or say these things and not be held accountable.”
The Madison Local Schools district responded to the accusations.
“We are aware of social media posts regarding a potential threat toward Madison today. The district is actively addressing the situation and has taken appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our students and employees,” the district wrote in a statement, according to The Blaze. “We appreciate your cooperation and support as we prioritize the well-being of our school community.”
Experts note that incidents like this are part of a broader trend of online harassment in U.S. schools.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 22 percent of students ages 12–18 who reported being bullied in the 2021–22 school year experienced harassment online or by text, underscoring the growing challenge of digital bullying.
The increase in student safety reporting systems reflects heightened awareness of such threats.
For example, Colorado’s Safe2Tell hotline logged record numbers of reports during the 2023–24 school year, many involving cyberbullying or potential physical harm, illustrating a national trend of students and parents alerting authorities to digital threats, as highlighted by Axios.
The Sorrell family is calling for stricter accountability and transparency from the school district, emphasizing that children who issue threats must face consequences proportional to the seriousness of their actions.
They argue that stronger measures are essential to prevent further harm and to maintain safe learning environments.
This case highlights the intersection of online harassment, school safety policies and parental concerns in the modern digital age.
With cyberbullying on the rise, experts argue that schools must adopt robust measures to protect students and ensure threats are taken seriously, balancing disciplinary action with mental health support.
By combining specific details from the incident with national data on bullying and safety reporting, the story underscores the urgent need for proactive and transparent approaches to student safety at both local and national levels, emphasizing accountability, communication and prevention in addressing threats to minors.
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