MT. PLEASANT Utah (ABC 4 News) – It was a call for help that went unanswered.
And according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, it cost Jacob Hancock his life.
Hancock was a senior at North Sanpete High School when he committed suicide in 2010
"This is a case about a social issue,” said the Hancock family attorney Justin Heideman. “It's about a problem that is epidemic in our system."
According to the lawsuit, bullying and hazing were responsible for Hancock’s suicide.
He committed suicide after spending his high school days at North Sanpete High in fear.
“There were individuals that began harassing him that made him feel intimidated it began when he was in 8th grade,” said Heideman.
The lawsuit names the North Sanpete School District, Mt. Pleasant police and others at the school.
The lawsuit claims Hancock was continually called “gay” and other derogatory names associated with the lifestyle by a group of boys.
But Hancock wasn't gay. He was athletic and participated sports in school.
“He loved rodeo, football and wrestling,” said his high school friend who didn’t want to be identified. “I was on the football and wrestling team with him and it was a lot of fun.”
But his attorney claims Hancock couldn't get away from the bullying and threats from certain classmates.
"This kid was told quote, unquote ‘get used to being in bed’” said Heideman. “He was going to be beat up or killed."
And when the then school officials were told about the bullying, the lawsuit claims the Hancoks were ignored.
In once incident the lawsuit claims Hancock was sexually assaulted by a special-ed student.
“Several students convinced the special-ed student to “grab the towel off of (Jacob) and touch (his) private parts. (The student) grabbed the towel, poked him several times in the penis and then took (Jacob’s) towel and urinated on the towel. The classmates laughed at him and (Jacob),” the lawsuit said.
According to the lawsuit the incident was reported to the school district by Hancock’s parents.
“The school district’s response was to offer to purchase the Hancocks a new towel,” the lawsuit said.
Hancock’s parents spoke with the school principal about the number of threats and bullying of their son.
“(The principal) essentially told Bradd (Hancock) that (Jacob) should just fight (his tormentors and that would solve the problem because that’s how it was done in times past,” the lawsuit said.
During his football years, Hancock was allegedly abused by his football coach.
The lawsuit claims “the football coach was abusive and demeaning towards (Jacob).” In one scene the lawsuit claims the coach in front of the team told Jacob “he looked like a pedophile.”
For five years Hancock endured the taunting.
“We knew what he was going through but we never asked him about it really,” his friend said.
And when he was assaulted at the school, his attorney claims police arrested him and later on according to the lawsuit Jacob came under investigation by police because "(Jacob) had raped some girls"
But that investigation went nowhere. Hancock was charged with assault for “tickling a girl.”
The family claims Jacob was labeled a trouble maker and was told to leave the school and the district.
"He made a plea for help they did everything they could do and had to do and that plea went unheard,” said Heideman.
His senior year, Hancock took his own life.
"I think it’s really sad and it’s really sad the community or the teachers didn't notice behavioral issues,” said Sabrina Larson who lives in the same town as the Hancocks, Fountain Green. “I think it’s sad for the family and I think it’s sad for the community.”
Hancock was buried in Fountain Green. After his burial a girl left a note on his headstone.
“The note said ‘I'm sorry for what happened to you I wish I would have stood up for you that day,’” said Heideman.
Heideman said he wants to talk to this person who left that note.
The school district had no comment.
