West Virginia: Parents Say Horse Killed By Bullies

They say students threatened to kill the Blackville teens' pets.Story by Macall Allen BLACKSVILLE -- Bullying has recently made national headlines after a 15-year-old Massachusetts teen hung herself after being bullied for several months.Six students have been charged in connection with her death. And parents say the same type of name calling and mistreatment is happening here in Monongalia County and they believe a family horse is dead because of it. Beth Hartley and Allen Hixenbaugh say their 17-year-old daughter, a junior at Clay-Battelle High School, has been bullied by students at school and on the Internet. "I'm concerned now that this will put her over the edge," said Hartley. They say the kids threatened to kill her, her horse and cat. Monday they discovered the girl's horse that she rides and races had been shot. It later died. A veterinarian confirmed that the horse died from a gun shot wound believed to be from a hand gun. The girls stepfather says something has to change. "I got him out here now covered in a blue canvas I don't want to go to Wal-Mart and cover up my daughter too something needs to be done because this bullying in school has just went on and on," said Hixenbaugh. Hartley says the principal and teacher talked to the teens involved and they were written up. They've also contacted the sheriff's department but the they say the harrassment has been going on for more than seven months and hasn't stopped. The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident. Monongalia County School Superintendent Frank Devono says they have not been made aware of the issue and they will look into the matter.