David's Law is in effect, stronger and more rigorous!!!
- jessetorres358
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
Cyberbullying
On October 21, 2015, a 16-year-old sophomore at Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio faced harassment from several teenage boys, leading to a tragic incident where the boy took his own life. His name was David Molak.
It started with hundreds of comments, including one suggesting he should be “six feet under” and another stating he belonged “in a coffin.”
David's mother Maurine shares with People. "Returning to school was impossible for him. He just felt as though everyone despised him Maurine Quoted."
The bullying was relentless, occurring both online and in the school hallways. Despite all the efforts of Maurine and her husband Matt — thought of moving him to a different school — he had already attempted suicide twice before tragically taking his own life on January 3, 2016.
“He was feeling extremely down and frightened,” his father, Matt, explains. “He couldn’t handle it any longer.” At 1 a.m. on January 4, Maurine discovered her son hanging from a tree in their backyard. She had reported him missing two hours prior, but it was only after the police traced his cell phone signal and dispatched a helicopter to aid in the search that they found him behind the family’s home.
The Mission that came out of it.
David Brothers Reflecting on the past, both Cliff and Chris express their surprise upon learning about the bullying and attempted to intervene.
Chris mentions that "David and him never really discussed that incident or bullying in general. Occasionally, I would step in on social media. I was just trying to protect him said Chris."
A few days following David's death, Cliff, who described himself as being in a "very dark place during that time," shared a Facebook post about accepting people's differences. He mentioned that just hours before David took his own life, he had witnessed the "tangible pain" in his brother's eyes.
"I hoped individuals would pause briefly in their day to reflect on David," says Cliff. The Molak family aspires that their tragedy and the efforts they've undertaken since David's passing will genuinely save lives.
Watch for indications and take every possible step to help your child if they are experiencing cyberbullying. David's father intervened against those who cyberbullied his son. Since the perpetrators were minors, he pursued legal action against their parents and successfully won a significant wrongful death lawsuit.
David's family had a message to share with everyone following his passing. In honor of David’s legacy, they pledge to help prevent this tragedy from affecting another family. No child should endure such harassment they said, and no family should suffer the loss of a beloved child as a result.
David’s Legacy Foundation is committed to educating young people, teens, and adults about eliminating cyberbullying and all forms of bullying. It is their dream, along with the dreams of thousands of other families, to eradicate bullying in every form and protect our children and teens from this senseless and cruel behavior.
Conclusion
No family should experience the loss of a child in this manner. If you notice any signs of bullying within your child, it's important to have a conversation and seek help quickly to prevent such a tragedy from affecting your family.
Submit a complaint to your local police department promptly before it's too late. However, refrain from starting any disputes with others. I hope David's death can make people more aware of their children's environment.
Story By Britney J Torres
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