Summer Bushman’s voice trembles when she talks about her daughter, Autumn, a bright 10-year-old from Roanoke, Virginia, who loved school but faced struggles that no child should endure.
On March 21, Autumn’s life ended in a way that left her family shattered—she died by suicide in her bedroom, moments after using her phone. Now, Summer is sharing her story, urging parents to take a closer look at what’s happening on their kids’ devices, especially at night.
Autumn was a student at Mountain View Elementary, a place where she should have felt safe. But her family says she was being bullied at school, a problem they reported to administrators. “They told us they’d handled it,” Autumn’s father, Mark, shared in an interview with a local NBC station. “But Autumn kept telling us it didn’t stop.” The harassment followed her beyond the classroom, creeping into her phone through messages and social media, a constant presence she couldn’t escape.
Summer remembers the night Autumn came to her in tears, overwhelmed and pleading to skip school the next day. “She was so upset, saying she was stressed and being picked on,” Summer recalled in a conversation with CBS News. “I wish I’d known how much she was carrying.” Like many kids her age, Autumn had a smartphone, a gift Summer now wishes she’d held off on giving her. At night, Autumn would take it to her room, insisting she needed it for her alarm. “I’d hear it go off every morning,” Summer said, her voice heavy with regret. “I didn’t think twice about it.”
But that phone, Summer believes, played a role in the pain Autumn was grappling with. Records show she was using it just before she took her life. A recent study from Virginia Tech, highlighted by CBS, sheds light on why this matters. It found that late-night screen time, especially for kids facing bullying, can amplify emotional struggles. The study pointed to a dangerous mix: the quiet of the night, the pull of social media, and easy access to medications at home. “Those hours can turn into a perfect storm for kids who are hurting,” said Abhishek Reddy, the Virginia Tech professor who led the research. He urges parents to keep phones out of bedrooms, set firm sleep routines, and lock away medications.
Autumn’s school, Roanoke County Public Schools, released a statement after her death, expressing grief and noting they were reviewing the situation. They couldn’t share details due to privacy laws but emphasized that they take bullying seriously. The Roanoke Police Department investigated and, in July, closed the case, finding no criminal activity tied to Autumn’s death.
Summer’s message to other parents is raw and urgent: check your kids’ phones. “Look at what they’re saying and what’s being said to them,” she told a local news outlet. “Make sure they’re being kind, and make sure others are being kind to them.” It’s a plea born from a loss she’ll carry forever—never seeing Autumn dress up for prom, walk down the aisle, or chase her dreams.
For those struggling, help is available. The 988 lifeline is there 24/7 for anyone needing to talk, whether through a call, text, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Summer hopes her story will spark conversations and save other families from the pain hers now endures.