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A seven-year-old boy from Charles County, Maryland, is recovering after being found hanging from a bathroom hook at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in Waldorf on Friday (November 15). The boy's parents, who have chosen to remain anonymous, have expressed concern over the incident, stating they believe there is more to the story than what has been shared by the school.
According to the parents, the boy was found choking on his own saliva, with severe bruising on his neck and face. The school, however, has described the incident as an unfortunate result of horseplay between the boy and a fourth-grade student. The school's principal, Carrie Burke, stated in a letter to the community that the boy's jacket got caught on a stall door hook while the two students were horseplaying in the bathroom. The other student was unable to help and left the bathroom to seek assistance from staff.
The boy's mother, in an interview with WJLA, questioned the school's account of the incident, stating, "That doesn't make sense to me. A hook is five feet tall. My son is only three feet, eight [inches]," she said. "And she even told me I was like, 'horse playing?' She said, 'Yeah, I don't believe it either.' So my thing is, if you don't believe it — why would you put that narrative out there?"
Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro, in a letter to the community, assured that the school system is conducting a full investigation into the incident. She also stated that disciplinary actions are being imposed in accordance with the CCPS Code of Student Conduct due to the serious nature of the incident.
The boy's parents have stated that they will not be sending their son back to the school, citing concerns over bullying. The Charles County Sheriff's Office is also investigating the incident.