Mother says she feels helpless after her young daughter attempted suicide twice and ran away from home due to being bullied and harassed about her skin tone and hair

The mom said her young daughter reportedly endured bullying from her classmates since the start of the school year. The mother also claims that the school district did not contact her about the harassment until she reached out to the school. The mother also said her daughter was being bullied and harassed about her skin tone and hair. The bullying reportedly caused her daughter to attempt suicide twice, run away from home, and she often prefers to be alone in her room.

The mother from Iowa, Marissa Geopfrat, told WHO13 that her 9-year-old daughter, Reighlynn Geopfert, had endured bullying from her classmates since the start of the school year.

Unfortunately, the school officials did not contact her about the harassment until she reached out to the school, the mom said.

The mother also said that Reighlynn was being bullied and harassed about her skin tone and hair.

Marissa also said that the bullying has caused her daughter to attempt suicide twice and run away from home. The 9-year-old child often prefers to be alone in her room, her mother said. The unfortunate mother is now sharing her daughter’s experience on social media.

Marissa Geopfrat wrote on her Facebook profile: “Yesterday I found out that in the last 2 months, my 9 year old became so overwhelmed with feelings of not being wanted and feeling ugly bc of her race/facial features/hair, and simply not being good enough that she thought ending her own life would be enough to rid her of the pain caused mostly by three bullies at school/staff that refused to listen and often punished her.

This attempt took place weeks ago. At that time, we were noticing small changes within her, but expected her to be approaching puberty. Never would I have expected this. Because like she said, she’s always told she is so strong and never really cared what other kids thought.”

Marissa Geopfrat reportedly told WHO13: “It just hurt me. What if she would have been successful? What if her friends decide to do the same because they can’t take it? It’s just horrible. They are nine-years-old. You shouldn’t be thinking things like that at nine years old.”

Per reports, the mother hired an outside company to investigate. As an effort to help her daughter and other children who are victims of bullying.  

Marissa Geopfrat also said: “Trying to hold the school district accountable is not a witchhunt. It is advocating for your child and other children, helping them know that bullying is not okay. That harassment [and] assault is not okay.”

The mom also mentioned that the 9-year-old girl is reportedly receiving therapy, and she does not feel comfortable attending school.

There is an active investigation into the bullying, the school district said. 

Jennifer Lane, Director of Communications and Community Relations of the School District, released the following statement:

“The FDCSD’s number one priority is the safety and well-being of our students. We take all bullying and harassment allegations seriously and are investigating the current allegations according to our policies and procedures.

The FDCSD does not condone and will not tolerate bullying. We will continue to work to ensure all students feel safe and welcome in our schools.”

This incident remains under investigation. This is a developing story and it will be updated as new information become available.