Tehachapi Teen Who Endured Gay Taunts Dies

TEHACHAPI (AP) — A 13-year-old Central California boy who was a target of taunts from classmates has died nine days after hanging himself from a tree.

Seth Walsh had been in a coma since he was found unconscious in his Tehachapi backyard Sept. 19.

KGET-TV reports that he died Tuesday.

Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode says investigators interviewed some of the teenagers who allegedly taunted Seth for being gay and concluded no crime was committed.

The chief said that several of the taunters broke down in tears while being questioned and said they wished they had tried to stop the bullying.

Judy Walsh says the family is not interested in casting blame and wants his memorial service scheduled for Friday to be a call for tolerance.

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