TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
A Texas tween allegedly bullied by her peers has died by suicide, and her mom claims the kids had been teasing the girl about her immigration status. The girl’s death has rocked her family and those who were close to her.
Bullying is sadly common; there are many stories of kids who take their own lives after suffering quietly. As more parents speak out about what happens, it draws attention to something that can be changed.
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Eleven-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza was found unresponsive in her home in Gainesville, Texas, CNN affiliate KUVN reported. The girl died on February 8, 2025, five days later.
“All week I’ve been waiting for a miracle — waiting for my daughter to get better,” her mother, Marbella Carranza, told KUVN. “But unfortunately there was nothing that could be done.”
She explained: “When I got home, they were still working on her, trying to revive her, she had been without life for a long time.”
Carranza spoke with CNN, telling them that after her death, she found out Jocelynn was teased and bullied at Gainesville Intermediate School. Her peers teased her about her family’s immigration status, Carranza alleged.
“They were going to call immigration so they could take her parents away and she would be left alone,” she claimed. She did not provide any additional details or insights into the family’s immigration status.
The grieving mom said she has spoken to investigators about what could have led to Jocelynn’s death. So far, “nothing concrete” has come up yet. She claims she had no idea her tween was being bullied.
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“My daughter never showed changes. I mean, there was never anything that gave me a sign that she was suffering from bullying,” she said.
The mom claims that the school knew the tween bullied by her peers and was suffering. However, they never informed her about what was happening. She also found out that her daughter was receiving counseling at the school.
“It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,” Carranza said. “It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.”
“[I want] justice because it’s not fair — the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter,” she added.
The Gainesville Independent School District provided a statement to CNN, but did not address the reports of Jocelynn being bullied directly. “Whenever we receive a report of bullying, we respond swiftly to ensure all students are safe physically and emotionally,” it wrote. “While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts.”
According to a statement provided to People, Gainesville police say Jocelynn’s death is being “actively investigated.”
Jocelynn attended the Boys & Girls Club of Cooke County, and they addressed her death in a Facebook post.
“Today we mourned the loss and celebrated the life of one of our Club kids, Jocelynn,” the club wrote. “Jocelynn was kind, sweet and a great friend to many. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jocelynn but we are hopeful that her story will change the lives of many. Her story is a reminder to always be kind because you never know what someone is going through.”
In the post, the tween was described as “a great motivator,” while others said “She always made us laugh.”
In her obituary, her family described her as “a wonderful daughter, sister, niece and friend to everyone.” They added that the girl “loved to dance and sing” and played the French horn. “She loved when her grandma took her to get her nails done,” they added.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
