Police say that a 14-year-old middle school student who ran away from home an hour earlier hanged herself in a California high school.
The body of the teen, whose name was not given, was found by police on the second floor of Lindhurst High School in the town of Olivehurst. She was said to have left her home nearby around 6 a.m., but no one knew where she went.
Yuba County Sheriff Wendell Anderson told reporters, “It does look like a suicide.” “The investigation is still going on.”
Anderson said that the police think there were students on campus who saw the body, and they are trying to find them to get statements and help.
He said that the death will probably rock the small town of 15,000 people, which is about 40 miles north of Sacramento.
“I know I can speak for everyone in our department when I say that this tragedy has left us all in tears,” he said. “This will affect our community for sure, and I urge anyone who is having suicidal thoughts to get help right away.”
The only thing the officials said about the victim was that she was in middle school.
Fal Asrani, superintendent of the Marysville Joint Unified School District, said in a statement, “Today is traumatic for the whole community of Lindhurst and for all of Yuba County.”
On Thursday, there were no classes, and the high school will also be closed on Friday.
In the meantime, grief counselors and psychologists will be in the building to help people.
