Obituary of 15-year-old who killed herself cites bullying

The family of a 15-year-old Pennsylvania girl who hanged herself says in her obituary that she had a tough life made worse by school bullies.

Sadie Riggs' family posted her obituary on Facebook after she died Monday, writing that she was a 'sweet and loving girl' who loved softball, reading, drawing and music. 

However, they say Sadie had a difficult life, alluding to issues with her biological parents by saying that she lived with her aunt.

Sadie Riggs (pictured) killed herself on Monday and her family have blamed bullying 

They say she was in counseling and took medications for emotional issues complicated by bullying, much of it on social media.  

Sadie's family tells the bullies: 'Please know you were effective in making her feel worthless.'

'That is all between you and God now, but please know that it is not to late to change your ways,' the obituary reads.

In an obituary, Sadie's family said that she was trying to get help for emotional issues but that the bullying became too much. She's pictured above with her aunt Sarah Smith, who she lived with

In an interview with WPXI, Sadie's aunt Sarah Smith said that most of the bullying happened on social media and that 'they called her everything in the book'.

However, the family says that they wouldn't wish any pain on those who hurt Sadie.  

'To all the bullies out there, I just want you to know that as much as we despise your actions never, ever do we wish for you to feel the paralyzing pain that engulfs our bodies, a pain so severe that it makes the simple act of breathing difficult or the guilt that leaves us wondering what we could have done differently-or that struggle to remember the last words we spoke...Our hearts are beyond broken. 

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'Sadie, it was a privilege to have you in our lives and we will always love you,' the obituary reads. 

The obituary ends with a plea to be nicer to each other. 

'In lieu of flowers, the family of Sadie ask that you be kind to one another,' it says.  

'Sadie, it was a privilege to have you in our lives and we will always love you,' the obituary reads

Bedford Area Superintendent Allen Sell says that he can't comment on the specific situation but that policing social media bullying is difficult because schools don't have jurisdiction if it happens outside school hours. 

The district is offering counseling to students affected by Sadie's death.

Riggs' aunt has set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise money for the young girl's funeral, which is set for this weekend. So far, it has raised more than $900 of its $6,000 goal. 

• For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here

• For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here

'BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER': SADIE L. RIGGS' HEARTBREAKING OBITUARY  

Miss Sadie L. Riggs, 15, of Bedford, took her own life on Monday, June 19th, 2017.

Sadie was born in Bedford on December 4, 2001. She is survived by her father, Eric Riggs and step mother Alicia Smith of Bedford and her biological mother, Beverly (Dodson) Riggs of Hopewell and by her motherly aunt, Sarah Smith, with whom she resided.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by Brother- Colby Wilson, California; Sister- Sheena Riggs, Defiance; Brother- Gaiege Dodson, Indiana, PA; Brother- Micah Riggs, Bedford; Sister- Rylee Riggs, Bedford; Brother- Dreygan Oberman, New Enterprise; Brother- Greyson Oberman, New Enterprise; Sister- Milaunna Dodson, Hopewell; Grandmother- Darlene Hall, Hopewell; Grandmother- Patricia J. Riggs, Bedford; Grandfather- Jeff Smith, Bedford; Grandmother- Stephanie Wallace, Bedford; Great Grandfather- Warren Feaster companion of Delores Materkowski, Bedford; Great Grandmother- Deanna Smith, Bedford; Great Grandmother- Ethel McDonald, Bedford. and Great Grandparents- Bill and Kay Dodson, Hopewell. Sadie is also survived by her special friends, Hannah, Karah, Jayla, TT, Mandy, Edie, Patrick & Greg and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by Grandfather, Tony Dodson, Grandfather, Bob Wallace, Great Grandmother, Carole Feaster, Great Grandfather, Ted Smith and Uncle Travis Feaster.

Sadie was a member of the Solid Rock Christian Fellowship Church in Bedford. She played softball and loved reading, drawing and music. Sadie was a sweet and loving girl and she will be greatly missed.

A funeral service will be held at Louis Geisel Funeral Home, Bedford at 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 24th, 2017 with Pastor Wayne Mcgruder officiating.

Friends are invited to call on Saturday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM at the Geisel Funeral Home in Bedford.

In an effort to debunk the rumors about Sadie's death we would like to share this information. Yes, Sadie took her own life, she hung herself. It is hard to fathom that someone so young could be so troubled. Sadie was seeking help, she was in counselling and taking medication, but it was all too much for such a young soul to live with. If you take a minute and look at Sadie's family dynamics you will see that a large percent of the people in her life were not not related to her by blood but she was sent to us by God who knew this child needed a family. Sadie had a tough life and until a recent incident at school she handled everything life served her. For a young lady so excited about going to the High School things sure went terribly wrong for her. For the bullies involved, please know you were effective in making her feel worthless. That is all between you and God now, but please know that it is not to late to change your ways. Sadie's death has taken us to dark places, we will stick together and protect one another as we try to make sense of this tragic loss. To all the bullies out there, I just want you to know that as much as we despise your actions never, ever do we wish for you to feel the paralyzing pain that engulfs our bodies, a pain so severe that it makes the simple act of breathing difficult or the guilt that leaves us wondering what we could have done differently-or that struggle to remember the last words we spoke...Our hearts are beyond broken. Sadie, it was a privilege to have you in our lives and we will always love you. May you find peace in the arms of God and may we all be kind to one another.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Sadie ask that you be kind to one another.

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