The video that surfaced of Izabel Laxamana‘s father cutting off her hair for the teen’s alleged misbehavior sparked heated debates nationwide about public shaming and embarrassment as a form of discipline.
After Laxamana’s suicide following the public shaming, Tacoma police have reported that her father will not face criminal charges for the punishment. Loretta Cool, a Tacoma public information officer, told the New York Daily News that the teen’s suicide was the result of a poor choice, “meaning that she didn’t have to kill herself.”
She also said that the father did not upload the video, but an unnamed third-party was responsible instead. The video was not meant to be shared on the father’s behalf, but rather for Izabel to keep as a reminder for her behavior.
“It was part of the discipline process,” Cool said. “So she would remember not to do it again.”
The investigation has turned up no evidence of child abuse, further supporting the father’s chances of no conviction. Izabel jumped from a bridge onto Interstate-5 in Tacoma, Washington, landing atop a moving car.
After being taken to a Seattle hospital, she tragically succumbed to her injuries. Since the incident, her father has come under fire on social media for the video.
However, Cool said that the teen faced other issues that drove her to take her own life. Calling it a “frustrating investigation,” she added that there were online claims of the young girl being bullied at school. These claims are not yet confirmed.
Cool hopes the incident will bring light to helping troubled teens who are facing depression or other issues before it is too late.
The video in question can be found here.
Photo Credit: Twitter