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'It was my son's call to action': Parents push to end bullying after son's death

'It was my son's call to action': Parents push to end bullying after son's death
IT HIT THE GROUND. ONLY ON vlog AND ADEL FAMILY IS SHARING THE HEARTBREAKING LAST MESSAGE FROM THEIR SON BEFORE HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. THE LAST THING MY CHILD WROTE TO ME, MY OLDEST SON WAS DEAD. DON’T GIVE UP. THERE GOING. vlog HAS BEEN FOLLOWING CALEB PETERSON STORY. HIS DEATH IGNITED A PLEA FROM THE ENTIRE TOWN TO END BULLYING IN SCHOOL. vlog LAURA TERRELL HAS THE EMOTIONAL MESSAGE FROM PETERSON’S PARENTS AS A WARNING. THE TOPIC OF SUICIDE MAY BE UPSETTING TO SOME VIEWERS. COMES AND GOES WHERE YOU’RE COMPLETELY INCAPABLE OF EVEN BREATHING. BARELY GOT IT. WITH GRIEF, LINDSAY AND DALE PETERSON SAY THEIR HEARTS ARE SHATTERED AS THEY TRY TO PIECE TOGETHER CLUES FROM THEIR SON. KAITLYN’S SUICIDE NOTE. THE LAST THING MY CHILD WROTE TO ME, MY OLDEST SON WAS DEAD. DON’T GIVE UP. WHEN I FIRST READ THAT, IT DIDN’T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE. AND THEN SHORTLY LATER, WE SAW HIS HIS LAST CHECK THAT HE POSTED TO THE WORLD. KAITLYN PETERSON POSTED THIS MESSAGE BEFORE HIS DEATH, SAYING, DON’T LET THIS SCHOOL FORGET WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. HIS PARENTS SAY THEY ARE NOW LEARNING ABOUT A DEEP ROOTED BULLYING PROBLEM IN THE EDM SCHOOL DISTRICT. HIS HIS FRIENDS ARE TELLING US THEY’RE STARTING TO TELL US THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON. IT’S A NIGHTMARE. BUT THESE THEM WANT TO BE THERE. AND THAT’S JUST THAT THEY’RE SCARED AND THEY DON’T WANT THESE KIDS ARE AFRAID OF RETALIATION. THEY’RE AFRAID THAT IF THEY GET NAMED AS THE PERSON THAT CAM CAME FORWARD, IT’S GOING TO BE THEM. THE BULLIES GO AFTER PETERSON, SAY KAITLYN NEVER WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL, BUT NEVER TOLD THEM WHY. THEY’RE NOW CALLING FOR A STRICTER, NO TOLERANCE BULLYING POLICY SO NO OTHER CHILDREN END UP LIKE THEIR SON. THEN IT’S SIMPLE. FOLLOW THROUGH AND PUNISHMENT REPERCUSSIONS FOR THEIR ACTIONS. STOP LETTING THE BULLIES BULLY CLASSMATES, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FORMED A LONG LINE AT THE VISITATION WEDNESDAY. THE PAIN SO DEEP YOU COULD FEEL IT IN THE ROOM. I HONESTLY BELIEVE IT WAS MY SON’S CALL TO ACTION. HE WANTED CHANGE. GRIEF LOOMS OVER THIS COMMUNITY AS THEY STRUGGLE WITH HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. ONE THING IS FOR SURE KAITLYN’S PARENTS PLAN TO CARRY OUT HIS FINAL WISH. WE’RE GOING TO FIND A WAY, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, TO HELP THESE KIDS TO STAND UP FOR THEM, GIVE THEM A VOICE, LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE LOVED. THEY ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE NEED THEM FOR TOMORROW. IN ADEL LAUR
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Updated: 8:00 AM CST Feb 16, 2023
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'It was my son's call to action': Parents push to end bullying after son's death
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Updated: 8:00 AM CST Feb 16, 2023
Editorial Standards
The parents of an Adel High School freshman who died by suicide say they are on a mission to stop bullying. Lindsey and Dale Peterson spoke with vlog shortly before their son's visitation service on Wednesday. Caelen Peterson, 14, died on Feb. 8. "He had left us a note. I didn't even read it. I just read the first words and it said 'forgive me' and I went screaming through the house," said Lindsey Peterson. The Petersons say their son never wanted to go to school, but he never told them why. They are now hearing from his friends and fellow students about relentless bullying. Dozens of people showed up to the ADM school board meeting this week to share similar stories of bullying. They say it is a deep-rooted problem in the school district. The Petersons are now calling for a no-tolerance bullying policy. "There are good teachers in that school. A lot of them, but if their hands are being tied then eventually, they are going to give up too," said Dale Peterson.The Petersons say their son left them a note asking them to 'not give up'. They vow to carry out Caelen's final wish. "We are going to find a way one way or another to help these kids. To stand up for them. Give them a voice. Let them know they are loved. They are important, and we need them for tomorrow," said Dale Peterson. If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.

The parents of an Adel High School freshman who died by suicide say they are on a mission to stop bullying.

Lindsey and Dale Peterson spoke with vlog shortly before their son's visitation service on Wednesday. Caelen Peterson, 14, died on Feb. 8.

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"He had left us a note. I didn't even read it. I just read the first words and it said 'forgive me' and I went screaming through the house," said Lindsey Peterson.

The Petersons say their son never wanted to go to school, but he never told them why. They are now hearing from his friends and fellow students about relentless bullying.

Dozens of people showed up to the ADM school board meeting this week to share similar stories of bullying. They say it is a deep-rooted problem in the school district. The Petersons are now calling for a no-tolerance bullying policy.

"There are good teachers in that school. A lot of them, but if their hands are being tied then eventually, they are going to give up too," said Dale Peterson.

The Petersons say their son left them a note asking them to 'not give up'. They vow to carry out Caelen's final wish.

"We are going to find a way one way or another to help these kids. To stand up for them. Give them a voice. Let them know they are loved. They are important, and we need them for tomorrow," said Dale Peterson.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can .