MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — The Middletown School District is not only fighting the family of a bullied girl who committed suicide, but they are now blaming her for her own death in a recently filed court brief.
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died by suicide in 2022 is moving forward with a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Middletown school district, alleging the district failed to intervene in bullying that contributed to her death.
Key Points
- Jocelyn Walters, 14, died by suicide on Sept. 9, 2022, after alleged bullying at Middletown High School North
- Lawsuit names school district officials, a mental health provider, and two students
- Both sides moved to seal medical, school, and digital evidence as case proceeds in Monmouth County
Family alleges ignored warnings
Jocelyn Walters died by suicide on Sept. 9, 2022, just days into her sophomore year at Middletown High School North. Her parents, Fred and Solangie Walters, filed the lawsuit in May 2024, claiming the district repeatedly ignored warnings about harassment their daughter faced from classmates.
“The school did nothing but attempt to defend itself, never defended my children,” said father of deceased girl, Fred Walters.
Named in the suit are the Middletown Board of Education, former superintendent Mary Ellen Walker, school principal Patricia Vari-Cartier, assistant principal Chris Regenio, and counselors Ryan McCabe and Jacquelin Duca. The lawsuit also targets psychiatric nurse practitioner Mark Sedlak of Rising Swell Mental Health, who had recently doubled Jocelyn’s Zoloft dosage before her death.
In a court docket filed on record, the district attempted to paint the deceased teenager, not as a victim, but also as an aggressor.
“Jocelyn, K.W., and other students allegedly engaged in online harassment against each other and that the district, when those instances were brought to its attention, investigated and addressed them appropriately,” the district said in the brief. “The district attempted to work with the parents to address their concerns. The plaintiffs and other parents and students filed HIB complaints against each other; the district investigated and addressed those complaints appropriately.”
Sealed records sought as trial proceeds
The lawsuit describes earlier suicide attempts and ongoing bullying claims, including alleged involvement by a student identified as J.M. and her sister, Mae McEwan. It also references a now-defunct Instagram account, “MHSN Clowns,” that mocked students. The Walters say school officials knew of the harassment but placed Jocelyn in the same classes as her alleged bully.
“Jocelyn, K.W., and other students allegedly engaged in online harassment against each other and that the district, when those instances were brought to its attention, investigated and addressed them appropriately,” the Middletown School District said.
On Monday, attorneys representing the school district, along with the Walters’ legal team, requested that Superior Court Judge Chad Cagan seal key evidence, including medical records, school reports, text messages, and social media posts, citing privacy concerns.
District denies wrongdoing
In its June 2024 legal response, the Middletown school district denied liability, stating it followed anti-bullying procedures and addressed all complaints.
The district described Jocelyn’s death as following “instances of conflict” with peers and denied any failure in enforcing its Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying policy.
Attorneys for J.M. and Mae McEwan also denied wrongdoing in separate filings.