A grieving New Jersey mother is speaking out against bullying after her 11-year-old daughter was found dead in a school bathroom.
Officials at the school immediately responded before she was rushed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; she was pronounced dead two days later.
PEOPLE reached out to Mount Holly Township School District but did not immediately hear back.
Felicia’s mother, Elaina LoAlbo, said her late daughter hademailed officials at her schooland told them she was being bullied just days before her death, per NJ.com. She accused the school of “breaking the laws” when it allegedly did nothing about her claims.
“She herself had written numerous emails to the administration detailing the events, yet no one was ever questioned,” Elaina told NJ.com. “They have swept under the rug, the bullying that she and so many other kids in that school have encountered and now they’re doing the same with this investigation.”
In one email sent to the school, Felicia also asked to begin a “trauma club” to serve as a space where students can discuss trauma and triggers, Elaina told the outlet.
Elaina expressed that her daughter “is not the only one” who was a victim of bullying.
“Felicia’s email will not go unheard,” she told NJ.com. “This isn’t about me. This is about our children.”
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In an emotional Facebook post shared on Friday, Elaina said, “We all have stories, we all have voices, now is the time for our voices to be heard.”
She noted that Burlington County authorities areplanning on closing the case"without completing an investigation and questioning key people or showing me, the mother, any proof of these allegations."
“Just like the school, I feel like they are trying to sweep it under the rug. News and media outlets are now focusing on the overall bullying within the school system. And it’s our turn to be heard!” she continued.
She shared that her daughter’s school “failed me,” adding: “We need to do better; we need to help these children that come to us begging for help. It’s time to speak up. The school administration didn’t listen the first 50 times. Maybe they are ready to hear us now. This bullying needs to stop. There need to be consequences for their actions.”
The prosecutors office says in the statement shared with PEOPLE, “Our deepest sympathy remains with Ms. LoAlbo and her family concerning this tragic incident. It was previously communicated that we would accommodate her request to view the school surveillance recording at the appropriate time, but not while the criminal investigation was ongoing. The investigation has concluded, and arrangements will be made in the near future for Ms. LoAlbo to be shown the footage.”
The Burlington County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Elaina shared a voice note from Felicia that was originally posted on April 1, 2021.
“If you are listening to this, my name is Felicia,” the child is heard saying in the message. “Say hello to future mom, future dad … future everyone. Never, never, never be bad, never give up on your friends, never, ever … be a bully.”
“I failed to convey this information to any teachers or staff in time for anything to be done, and I need to apologize for this,” he said. “While no response to the death of an 11-year-old girl can ever be truly adequate, our response to this tragedy so far has been pathetic.”
He continued, per the outlet, “Felicia deserves better. She deserves a full investigation, she deserves a full accounting and she deserves truth — and I hope that we can give it to her.”
At the time of her death,Felicia was mourning the death of her father, New Jersey Transit Police Detective Alexis Melendez, who died nearly two weeks before her.
The agency said in a tribute via Twitter he would be “remembered for his hard work and dedication, his cheerful demeanor, and his deep laugh. No matter the assignment or detail, Detective Melendez’s presence was always an asset.”
According to Daily Voice,he died of pancreatic cancer.
In her obituary, Felicia is described as “a compassionate humaneveryone wishes they could be. Felicia was truly kind and selfless who inspired others with her radiant personality. She was the most loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend that will be deeply missed.”
source: people.com
