Fourteen year old Brandon Bitner left his Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa. home during the early morning hours on Friday, November 5, 2010. Brandon walked alone, in the cold darkness, over 6 miles to a busy intersection on US Routes 11 & 15 near Liverpool, Pa. When he arrived at his destination, Brandon stepped out in front of a Weis Markets tractor trailer truck and committed suicide.
Brandon’s mother Tammy discovered her son’s suicide note at their home before 4 a.m. that tragic Friday. Brandon addressed his love for his closest family and friends but also expressed his reasons for taking his own life.
In the suicide note, Brandon described constant bullying and harassment in the Midd-West School District, which had been happening for over five years. Fellow students constantly harassed Brandon on a daily basis for his appearance and his assumed sexual preference. Brandon was called gay, faggot, sissy, emo, goth, and witnesses even saw him being physically abused in the school hallways.
Brandon also laid out a mission for his family, friends, and supporters in his suicide note. He believed that his suicide would teach the school district, the surrounding communities and maybe even the world, that bullying is not something that should be taken lightly. Brandon specifically requested that his family and friends march on in his honor, to bring awareness to bullying and the mental and physical abuse that it causes.
awwhh! I did not know brandon at all im so sorry 2 hear about this. We found this page while looking up things on bullying and how schools should do more about it. And just by reading this brandon sounds like a remarkable guy! And he had such pretty eyes and a very nice smile. I wish i culd have met him. Im so sorry for yalls lose and i now know that things do get better. Cuz i get called emo and faggot and pushed around n stuff. R.I.P brandon! Ur still loved
i never meet Brandon but my girlfriend went to that school and she was best friends with him. but when i heard about this i cried and i don’t even know him. but its sad bc you realize that kids don’t understand what they are doing to other kids. Brandon seemed to be a wonderful kid and i really wish i could of meet him. Im sorry to here about all of this but i hope Brandon know that everyone here still loves him and always will no matter what. God bless Brandon’s family bc they are going throw some hard times now. R.I.P Brandon god bless
I am so sorry for this young boy and family,I can’t believe things like this could happen and leave so much pain not only for family and friends but for everybody, I can only say to the family specially his mom god need a angel and he took him. My prayers are with you.
I was indeed aware of how tradgic this situation was and most probaly still is for Brandons closest friends and family because of my twitter post earlier. (MrMuffiiinz) However i had no idea that the location for such a terrible thing would be Liverpool, you see Liverpool,England is where i live and am now feeling a strange comitment to get Brandons story out here and help raise awarness about bulling, so i feel complelled to tell all my friends and family and get them behind a anti bullying organisation.
Please spread Brandons story and help us fight bullying. That is the reason Brandon did this was to get bullying noticed. It needs to be spread everywhere and the more people that know the story the better. We will fight Brandons fight and I hope we can make a difference. Thank you.
This is really sad. I’ve told my friends about this story.
i just found this today, and it’s just shameful that kids my age (i’m 14) feel that bullying is just fun and games, they never think that the kid they’re bullying could feel so tormented and commit suicide. and so brandon was bullied because he had “emo kid” look i take it? again pitiful that now adays in school that if you don’t fit in a certain way they discriminate you. i know how exactly how brandon felt, i was made fun of for the same reason, i was also called many things but let’s not get into that. i didn’t know brandon but i agree that he is and will always be a bright star that never loses it’s shine.
Bullying is a killer. Those of us who survive relentless bullying wind up w symptoms of PTSD or other issues. I am hugging you in spirit and support your efforts.
I knew him he was a great friend I love him and miss him dearly
I found Brandon’s story when I was looking up stuff preventing suicide. I saw and read Brandon’s story. I cried because he’s an innocent soul. I wish I could have known him, he seems pretty cool.
Rest in peace Brandon. Your story will be forever told, it will change others minds.
Hi Pearl, for posting this comment. I’m glad you came across Brandon’s story – it’s a story that needs to be told. He was an amazing, fun, funny and talented young man. Thank you so much for your message. -Katie