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Adel police investigate what led to student's suicide

Police say they have interviewed 100 people including students and friends of Caelen Peterson.

Adel police investigate what led to student's suicide

Police say they have interviewed 100 people including students and friends of Caelen Peterson.

NEW TONIGHT - ADEL POLICE SAY THEY ARE NOW INVESTIGATING WHAT LED TO THE DEATH OF A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN. POLICE SAY CAELEN PETERSON DIED BY SUICIDE. MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING - BULLYING PLAYED A ROLE. vlog'S LAURA TERRELL - HAS BEEN ASKING POLICE AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT - FOR ANSWERS. YES, ADEL POLICE TELL US THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS LENGTHY AND ONGOING - AND IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM TO UNCOVER WHAT LED TO CAELEN PETERSON'S DEATH. CAELEN PETERSON'S PARENTS ARE NOW SHARING THE LAST MESSAGE THE 14- YEAR-OLD POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE TAKING HIS OWN LIFE ON FEBRUARY 8TH. HE WRITES "TO THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT ME DON'T LET THIS SCHOOL FORGET WHAT THEY'VE DONE GOODBYE". ADEL POLICE - CONFIRM TO vlog TUESDAY - THAT THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THE MEANING BEHIND THE MESSAGE. <ADM YOU NEED TO DO BETTER!> MONDAY NIGHT - MORE THAN 100 PARENTS AND STUDENTS SHOWED UP TO THE ADM SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY CALL A DANGEROUS BULLYING PROBLEM WITHIN THE DISTRICT. FRIENDS SAY PETERSON WAS BULLIED BEFORE HIS DEATH - AND THOSE BULLIES LAUGHED ABOUT HIS SUICIDE IN SCHOOL. <I COULD HEAR PEOPLE JOKING AND LAUGHING ABOUT IN SCHOOL. IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE I WENT. IF I WAS IN THE BATHROOM. THE COMMONS. IN THE CLASSROOM.> ADEL POLICE SAY THEY HAVE INTERVIEWED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE - INCLUDING STUDENTS AND FRIENDS OF PETERSON. FLOWERS, BALLOONS AND HANDWRITTEN NOTES NOW SIT AT THE BUSY ADEL INTERSECTION WHERE PETERSON DIED. THE MEMORIAL IS GROWING - AND SO IS PAIN OF SO MANY PARENTS IN THE DISTRICT. <I GOT TO EXPLAIN TO MY SECOND GRADER WHAT SUICIDE WAS. AN EIGHT YEAR OLD DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW WHAT SUICIDE IS!> DOZENS OF PARENTS AND FORMER AND CURRENT STUDENTS CALLED FOR THE DISTRICT TO ENFORCE A NO TOLERANCE BULLYING POLICY WITH CONSEQUENCES. ADEL POLICE HAVE NOT SAID IF ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES WILL BE FILED IN THIS CASE. <WE HAVE ALL BE SHAKEN. WE ARE GRIEVING.> AS THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GRIEVE, THE PETERSON FAMILY TELLS vlog THAT THEIR SON WILL NOT DIE IN VAIN. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS - AND FOR PEACE FOR HIS TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS. WE ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT GREG DUFOE FOR AN INTERVIEW TODAY. HE DECLINED, BUT DID SEND US A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART: "THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND ADDITIONAL LISTENING CONTINUED TODAY AS I TALKED TO SEVERAL OF THE PATRONS WHO ADDRESSED THE BOARD. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITIES ARE STRONG AND WE WILL COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND MOVE FORWARD BETTER THAN WE ARE TODAY." IF YOU - OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW - IS STRUGGLING WITH THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE - HELP IS AVAILABLE
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Updated: 9:27 AM CST Feb 15, 2023
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Adel police investigate what led to student's suicide

Police say they have interviewed 100 people including students and friends of Caelen Peterson.

vlog logo
Updated: 9:27 AM CST Feb 15, 2023
Editorial Standards
Adel police say they are investigating what led to the death of a high school freshman. Police say 14-year-old Caelen Peterson died by suicide on Feb. 8. Police say they have interviewed more than 100 people including students and friends of Peterson. They have not said if any criminal charges will be filed in the case. After Peterson's death, dozens of parents and students spoke at the Adel DeSoto Minburn School District school board meeting Monday night. They say bullying is a dangerous problem in the district. Friends say Peterson was relentlessly bullied before his death. Peterson's parents shared a screenshot with vlog on Tuesday that shows the last message their son posted on social media before his death. It said, "To those who care about me don't let this school forget what they've done goodbye."Adel police say they are trying to find out the meaning behind the message. ADM Superintendent Greg Dufoe provided vlog with this statement on Tuesday:"At last night’s Board meeting, the Board listened to citizens and their concerns about bullying in our schools. As Board President Tim Canney stated as he opened the meeting, “There's no perfect answer or policy, but ADM is committed to working with those in our communities interested in working towards better solutions." Those conversations and additional listening continued today as I talked to several of the patrons who addressed the Board. Our school district and communities are strong and we will come together to address these concerns and move forward better than we are today."

Adel police say they are investigating what led to the death of a high school freshman.

Police say 14-year-old Caelen Peterson died by suicide on Feb. 8. Police say they have interviewed more than 100 people including students and friends of Peterson. They have not said if any criminal charges will be filed in the case.

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After Peterson's death, dozens of parents and students spoke at the Adel DeSoto Minburn School District school board meeting Monday night. They say bullying is a dangerous problem in the district. Friends say Peterson was relentlessly bullied before his death.

Peterson's parents shared a screenshot with vlog on Tuesday that shows the last message their son posted on social media before his death. It said, "To those who care about me don't let this school forget what they've done goodbye."

Adel police say they are trying to find out the meaning behind the message.

ADM Superintendent Greg Dufoe provided vlog with this statement on Tuesday:

"At last night’s Board meeting, the Board listened to citizens and their concerns about bullying in our schools. As Board President Tim Canney stated as he opened the meeting, “There's no perfect answer or policy, but ADM is committed to working with those in our communities interested in working towards better solutions." Those conversations and additional listening continued today as I talked to several of the patrons who addressed the Board. Our school district and communities are strong and we will come together to address these concerns and move forward better than we are today."