The Tragic Story of Aubreigh Wyatt Death

The tragic death of young Aubreigh Wyatt, a 13-year-old girl who lived in Ocean Springs, Mississippi died by suicide on September 4, 2023, after going through continued bullying, according to her mother, Heather Wyatt. Since then, her story went highly viral, especially across social media platforms such as TikTok.

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The Story Behind Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death

Today, the story of Aubreigh Wyatt has become synonymous with the horrible results of bullying. According to her mother, Aubreigh was constantly bullied at school, something she could not take any longer.

Heather Wyatt spoke of at least four girls who “tormented” Aubreigh into committing suicide. Heather never told the world who they were, but the story of this family went viral on the internet, and within days, the users exposed the girls.

Aubreigh Wyatt’s sad demise popularized the hashtag #LLAW, which stood for ‘Live Like Aubreigh Wyatt’. Many people from all over the world shared her story showing their condolences and support to the Wyatt family. Heather Wyatt has talked about her daughter’s battle and what happened after that through social media, including TikTok.

Legal Battles Following Aubreigh Wyatt’s Death

Her mother later took to social media and accused several girls of bullying her, charges that evolved into a lawsuit. Parents of girls accused of bullying Aubreigh have filed a lawsuit against Heather Wyatt, accusing her of defamation and slander, claiming the social media allegations subjected their daughters to an avalanche of abusive messages and threats. The lawsuit detailed how the online post by Heather has brought on a backlash of unforgiving proportion against the accused girls, also in 8th grade themselves.

In a ruling, Heather Wyatt was ordered to take down all of her social media accounts as the case progressed. The other supporters of Heather were very angry; they said this was free speech being infringed upon. Famous faces on TikTok, like that of Ophelia Nichols, alias Mama Tot, showed up in support of Heather, with Nichols commenting, “Since Aubreigh’s mama can’t speak for her, I suppose we will.” Her post received millions of views.

According to the latest news as reported by Vicksburg News, on July 16, 2024, parents of the accused girls have dropped a lawsuit against Heather. The case has been dismissed without prejudice, which means it could be filed again at some point in the future, but for the time being, Heather will no longer face legal action from the families of the accused teens. Speaking of which, it is still unclear as to whether the judge will be lifting the ban on Heather regarding social media; as per the latest updates, her profiles are still offline.

The Wyatt Family’s Fight for Justice

Heather Wyatt has continued a quest for justice and accountability, not only for the bullying that she says took her daughter’s life but also for bringing more awareness about mental health. She has spoken about supporting mental health resources, especially among youth who could be struggling in silence.

Heather called Aubreigh “vibrant, kind, and exceptionally bright” in a GoFundMe campaign started for her to help her with legal expenses. The fundraiser, which has also brought in upwards of $110,000 as of this writing, spoke to the financial challenges the Wyatt family has faced since embarking on the legal journey.

Heather uses her platform to call for mental health care now, asking for donations to local crisis centers and checking in with therapists and counselors to identify people who may need help.

In Memory of Aubreigh Wyatt

Aubreigh Wyatt was a fan of the beach, gymnastics, and creating TikToks.

The Ocean Springs School District, where Aubreigh attended school, has since released a statement to the Wyatt family. They say in a statement they’re committed to providing a safe learning environment and take all reports of bullying seriously. However, some have taken issue with the school’s response to the tragedy, saying enough wasn’t done to save Aubreigh before her death.

The school district does run an online system for bullying reporting-instances can be reported anonymously online or in person by students and parents alike. The efforts of the district notwithstanding, key conversations that Aubreigh Wyatt’s death has raised are about the part schools can play in the prevention of bullying and better ways to support students through poor mental health.

Aftermath and Call for Change

It was her death case that continued to ring in many people’s hearts all over the world and, more particularly, on social media, where her mom got millions of views after posting about her. Heather Wyatt has become an advocate for parents with children who have died by suicide and outspoken about mental health issues faced by youngsters.

Besides the fact that the Aubreigh Wyatt case has brought many more legal fights into the Wyatt family, Heather has continued putting her efforts into keeping her daughter’s memory alive and fighting for change. The hashtag #LLAW still circulates online today, reminding people to “Live Like Aubreigh Wyatt” and to stand up against bullying in their communities.

The tragic death of Aubreigh Wyatt was a reminder of the toll bullying and mental health struggles can take on young people. Her story sparked an important dialogue on how we can better support those silent, suffering children and our need for increased mental health resources in our schools.

If You Need Help

If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, text the word “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visit 988lifeline.org.