Editor’s note: The family asked FOX8 to share the video to make other parents aware of bullying.
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — A teenager with autism who participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge became the target of bullies, which police are investigating.
“Once we found out about it, we were just horrified,” his mother said.
She said a group of juveniles dumped feces, urine, spit, and cigarette butts on her youngest son.
“I want these kids held accountable for what they did to him and they targeted somebody who just didn’t really understand what was going on,” she said.
Video of the incident was found on the boy’s cellphone, and the family wants it made public.
“I mean, the first thing that popped into my mind was like, why could someone – how could someone do this?” said Jacob. “How could someone really be this cruel to someone?”
The video shows the boy standing in a driveway, wearing only his underwear as a bucket’s contents are poured from above. But instead of ice water, the bucket allegedly held bodily fluids and cigarette butts.
“He was embarrassed because he did not know what the contents were until afterwards and then he didn’t want anybody to know,” said his mom. “They used his phone to tape it and they put it up on Instagram.”
“This is just too far. It’s really bad,” the boy’s brother said.
A detective with the Bay Village Police Department says criminal charges could be filed.
“It’s disturbing to watch, you can obviously tell that somebody has been taking advantage of there,” Det. Kevin Krolkosky said.
He added it’s not a prank, but possibly a crime, and the juveniles who did it could face delinquency charges.
“Obviously, if possible, we do want to hold those individuals accountable for their actions,” Krolkosky said.
The police investigation is still in its early stages, and although investigators say they have a good idea who was involved, it may take a few weeks for charges to be filed.
“The bucket challenge is supposed to be raising awareness for this disease and now they’ve turned it into a sick joke,” said the victim’s mom. “I just can’t understand why kids would do something this cruel.”
The boy’s parents wanted the video released so other parents might have a conversation with their kids about how to treat people.
