Content warning: This story may include topics that some readers may find uncomfortable. At the end of November, seventh-grader Eli Fritchley took his own life after experiencing incessant amounts of bullying from his classmates.
Described as a “peaceful soul”, Eli was unapologetically himself and played the trombone in Cascades Middle school’s marching band.
In an emotional interview with WKRN, Debby and Steve Fritchley opened up about their son and the type of abuse he experienced. “He was told because he didn’t necessarily have a religion and that he said he was gay that he was going to go to Hell.
They told him that quite often,” Debby said. She also said that because he painted his nails pink, and wore a Spongebob sweatshirt everyday