New Bedford 11-year-old is apparent suicide victim - New Bedford, MA 02740 - Concerta

[Guest guest]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110310/NEWS/103100339/-1/NEWSMAP

New Bedford 11-year-old is apparent suicide victim

By Curt

Brown

cbrown@...

March 10, 2011 12:00 AM

Editor's note: The Standard-Times

doesn't ordinarily publish stories about suicides that happen

in the privacy of a home unless there are extenuating

circumstances that make it newsworthy. Today, we are

publishing this story because the victim is a young boy whose

mother wants to reach out to young people who may be

struggling with thoughts of suicide.

NEW BEDFORD — Priscilla Lopes sat in her

Apache Court apartment surrounded by friends Wednesday afternoon

and spoke openly about the apparent suicide of her 11-year-old

son.

The 32-year-old unemployed mother of two

said she hoped others might learn from her son's story and seek

the help that might prevent a similar tragedy.

Elijah J. Lopes, a sixth-grader at

Middle School, who was taking medications for attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder, was found dead in his upstairs bedroom

Tuesday night after apparently hanging himself with a belt.

There were no warning signs, Priscilla

Lopes said. Nothing she saw in her son would have led her to

believe he would take his own life.

She said her son had been diagnosed with

ADHD at age 3½ and was taking the commonly prescribed medication

Concerta, a central nervous system stimulant used to treat

children and teens with ADHD. (The active ingredient in Concerta

is methylphenidate HCI or Ritalin.)

Lopes said her son's nature was to be

contrary, but he otherwise appeared to be happy.

"Elijah would argue with you," she said.

"If there was a debate team in New Bedford, he would have won —

especially when he knew he was right.

"We all just managed with Elijah. We all

knew his ups and downs."

Lopes said on the night of his death she

told Elijah to take a shower around 9:45 p.m. but he wanted to

continue playing with his uncle, Derrick Lopes. She said Elijah

went upstairs and appeared to slam the door to the bathroom.

About 20 minutes later, she said, his uncle

also went upstairs and found Elijah hanging from furniture in

his bedroom.

Despite his ADHD, Elijah was by all

accounts an active, healthy child who enjoyed riding his

skateboard, roller skating, playing video games and hanging

around with friends.

Lopes said she transferred Elijah to the

Middle School in late January because he didn't like the

Global Learning Charter Public School, which he previously

attended.

Furtado, executive director of the

charter school, said Elijah attended all of fifth grade there

and four months of sixth grade until his mother withdrew him on

Jan. 24.

Lopes said her son seemed much happier

attending . "You should have seen him. It was like night

and day," she said.

Lopes said Elijah was a New York Yankees

fan and she believes he liked the Yankees because she was an

ardent Red Sox fan.

"Just like I liked the Raiders, so he liked

the Patriots. Just to be contrary."

She said his role model was Randy Moss, the

former New England Patriots' star wide receiver. Lopes said he

liked Moss because the football player went from the Raiders to

the Patriots.

Elijah's room revealed the typical life of

a tweener — a preteen, not a child, but also not a teenager.

A television with photos of his 1-year-old

sister, Avah, on each side and a computer sat at the foot of his

bed, while one of his favorite video games, "Call of Duty: Black

Ops," lay on his bed. His mother said he really wanted

PlayStation 3 for Christmas and he gave her some money to help

buy it.

A pink piggy bank was on his dresser next

to his bed, and Amy Frias, a family friend, said Elijah was

saving money for a trip the family was planning to Florida.

Frias said she saw him at the Dartmouth

Mall on Tuesday night, hours before he is suspected of taking

his own life.

"He was yelling for me in the mall," Frias

said. "He wanted to know where my son was."

G. Desrosiers, principal at the

Middle School, sent a letter to parents noting the passing

of a student but not identifying the child.

Desrosiers added in the letter that grief

counselors will be available at today and Friday for any

child who needs assistance.

A parent of one of Elijah's friends called

Lopes Wednesday afternoon. The friend had heard another student

say there was a child who had bullied Elijah. But neither

police, school authorities nor the district attorney would

confirm an investigation into bullying.

Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for District

Attorney C. Sutter, said authorities are "extensively

investigating the unattended death of an 11-year-old in a family

home in New Bedford," declining to name the child.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation

into the death and let the facts lead us where they may," he

added.

Calls from The Standard-Times on Wednesday

to the School Department and the New Bedford Police Department

were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Gomes, a family friend, was still

trying to understand the tragedy Wednesday.

"He just was a happy kid," she said. "He

went with everything."

"I don't understand it, how it could

happen," said Conchinha, another family friend

consoling Lopes at her home. "Every time I saw him he was so

happy."

Lopes fought back tears while leaning

against a living room wall for support.

"If anyone has a depression, any age, just

tell someone," she said.

[Guest guest]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110310/NEWS/103100339/-1/NEWSMAP

New Bedford 11-year-old is apparent suicide victim

By Curt

Brown

cbrown@...

March 10, 2011 12:00 AM

Editor's note: The Standard-Times

doesn't ordinarily publish stories about suicides that happen

in the privacy of a home unless there are extenuating

circumstances that make it newsworthy. Today, we are

publishing this story because the victim is a young boy whose

mother wants to reach out to young people who may be

struggling with thoughts of suicide.

NEW BEDFORD — Priscilla Lopes sat in her

Apache Court apartment surrounded by friends Wednesday afternoon

and spoke openly about the apparent suicide of her 11-year-old

son.

The 32-year-old unemployed mother of two

said she hoped others might learn from her son's story and seek

the help that might prevent a similar tragedy.

Elijah J. Lopes, a sixth-grader at

Middle School, who was taking medications for attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder, was found dead in his upstairs bedroom

Tuesday night after apparently hanging himself with a belt.

There were no warning signs, Priscilla

Lopes said. Nothing she saw in her son would have led her to

believe he would take his own life.

She said her son had been diagnosed with

ADHD at age 3½ and was taking the commonly prescribed medication

Concerta, a central nervous system stimulant used to treat

children and teens with ADHD. (The active ingredient in Concerta

is methylphenidate HCI or Ritalin.)

Lopes said her son's nature was to be

contrary, but he otherwise appeared to be happy.

"Elijah would argue with you," she said.

"If there was a debate team in New Bedford, he would have won —

especially when he knew he was right.

"We all just managed with Elijah. We all

knew his ups and downs."

Lopes said on the night of his death she

told Elijah to take a shower around 9:45 p.m. but he wanted to

continue playing with his uncle, Derrick Lopes. She said Elijah

went upstairs and appeared to slam the door to the bathroom.

About 20 minutes later, she said, his uncle

also went upstairs and found Elijah hanging from furniture in

his bedroom.

Despite his ADHD, Elijah was by all

accounts an active, healthy child who enjoyed riding his

skateboard, roller skating, playing video games and hanging

around with friends.

Lopes said she transferred Elijah to the

Middle School in late January because he didn't like the

Global Learning Charter Public School, which he previously

attended.

Furtado, executive director of the

charter school, said Elijah attended all of fifth grade there

and four months of sixth grade until his mother withdrew him on

Jan. 24.

Lopes said her son seemed much happier

attending . "You should have seen him. It was like night

and day," she said.

Lopes said Elijah was a New York Yankees

fan and she believes he liked the Yankees because she was an

ardent Red Sox fan.

"Just like I liked the Raiders, so he liked

the Patriots. Just to be contrary."

She said his role model was Randy Moss, the

former New England Patriots' star wide receiver. Lopes said he

liked Moss because the football player went from the Raiders to

the Patriots.

Elijah's room revealed the typical life of

a tweener — a preteen, not a child, but also not a teenager.

A television with photos of his 1-year-old

sister, Avah, on each side and a computer sat at the foot of his

bed, while one of his favorite video games, "Call of Duty: Black

Ops," lay on his bed. His mother said he really wanted

PlayStation 3 for Christmas and he gave her some money to help

buy it.

A pink piggy bank was on his dresser next

to his bed, and Amy Frias, a family friend, said Elijah was

saving money for a trip the family was planning to Florida.

Frias said she saw him at the Dartmouth

Mall on Tuesday night, hours before he is suspected of taking

his own life.

"He was yelling for me in the mall," Frias

said. "He wanted to know where my son was."

G. Desrosiers, principal at the

Middle School, sent a letter to parents noting the passing

of a student but not identifying the child.

Desrosiers added in the letter that grief

counselors will be available at today and Friday for any

child who needs assistance.

A parent of one of Elijah's friends called

Lopes Wednesday afternoon. The friend had heard another student

say there was a child who had bullied Elijah. But neither

police, school authorities nor the district attorney would

confirm an investigation into bullying.

Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for District

Attorney C. Sutter, said authorities are "extensively

investigating the unattended death of an 11-year-old in a family

home in New Bedford," declining to name the child.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation

into the death and let the facts lead us where they may," he

added.

Calls from The Standard-Times on Wednesday

to the School Department and the New Bedford Police Department

were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Gomes, a family friend, was still

trying to understand the tragedy Wednesday.

"He just was a happy kid," she said. "He

went with everything."

"I don't understand it, how it could

happen," said Conchinha, another family friend

consoling Lopes at her home. "Every time I saw him he was so

happy."

Lopes fought back tears while leaning

against a living room wall for support.

"If anyone has a depression, any age, just

tell someone," she said.

[Guest guest]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110310/NEWS/103100339/-1/NEWSMAP

New Bedford 11-year-old is apparent suicide victim

By Curt

Brown

cbrown@...

March 10, 2011 12:00 AM

Editor's note: The Standard-Times

doesn't ordinarily publish stories about suicides that happen

in the privacy of a home unless there are extenuating

circumstances that make it newsworthy. Today, we are

publishing this story because the victim is a young boy whose

mother wants to reach out to young people who may be

struggling with thoughts of suicide.

NEW BEDFORD — Priscilla Lopes sat in her

Apache Court apartment surrounded by friends Wednesday afternoon

and spoke openly about the apparent suicide of her 11-year-old

son.

The 32-year-old unemployed mother of two

said she hoped others might learn from her son's story and seek

the help that might prevent a similar tragedy.

Elijah J. Lopes, a sixth-grader at

Middle School, who was taking medications for attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder, was found dead in his upstairs bedroom

Tuesday night after apparently hanging himself with a belt.

There were no warning signs, Priscilla

Lopes said. Nothing she saw in her son would have led her to

believe he would take his own life.

She said her son had been diagnosed with

ADHD at age 3½ and was taking the commonly prescribed medication

Concerta, a central nervous system stimulant used to treat

children and teens with ADHD. (The active ingredient in Concerta

is methylphenidate HCI or Ritalin.)

Lopes said her son's nature was to be

contrary, but he otherwise appeared to be happy.

"Elijah would argue with you," she said.

"If there was a debate team in New Bedford, he would have won —

especially when he knew he was right.

"We all just managed with Elijah. We all

knew his ups and downs."

Lopes said on the night of his death she

told Elijah to take a shower around 9:45 p.m. but he wanted to

continue playing with his uncle, Derrick Lopes. She said Elijah

went upstairs and appeared to slam the door to the bathroom.

About 20 minutes later, she said, his uncle

also went upstairs and found Elijah hanging from furniture in

his bedroom.

Despite his ADHD, Elijah was by all

accounts an active, healthy child who enjoyed riding his

skateboard, roller skating, playing video games and hanging

around with friends.

Lopes said she transferred Elijah to the

Middle School in late January because he didn't like the

Global Learning Charter Public School, which he previously

attended.

Furtado, executive director of the

charter school, said Elijah attended all of fifth grade there

and four months of sixth grade until his mother withdrew him on

Jan. 24.

Lopes said her son seemed much happier

attending . "You should have seen him. It was like night

and day," she said.

Lopes said Elijah was a New York Yankees

fan and she believes he liked the Yankees because she was an

ardent Red Sox fan.

"Just like I liked the Raiders, so he liked

the Patriots. Just to be contrary."

She said his role model was Randy Moss, the

former New England Patriots' star wide receiver. Lopes said he

liked Moss because the football player went from the Raiders to

the Patriots.

Elijah's room revealed the typical life of

a tweener — a preteen, not a child, but also not a teenager.

A television with photos of his 1-year-old

sister, Avah, on each side and a computer sat at the foot of his

bed, while one of his favorite video games, "Call of Duty: Black

Ops," lay on his bed. His mother said he really wanted

PlayStation 3 for Christmas and he gave her some money to help

buy it.

A pink piggy bank was on his dresser next

to his bed, and Amy Frias, a family friend, said Elijah was

saving money for a trip the family was planning to Florida.

Frias said she saw him at the Dartmouth

Mall on Tuesday night, hours before he is suspected of taking

his own life.

"He was yelling for me in the mall," Frias

said. "He wanted to know where my son was."

G. Desrosiers, principal at the

Middle School, sent a letter to parents noting the passing

of a student but not identifying the child.

Desrosiers added in the letter that grief

counselors will be available at today and Friday for any

child who needs assistance.

A parent of one of Elijah's friends called

Lopes Wednesday afternoon. The friend had heard another student

say there was a child who had bullied Elijah. But neither

police, school authorities nor the district attorney would

confirm an investigation into bullying.

Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for District

Attorney C. Sutter, said authorities are "extensively

investigating the unattended death of an 11-year-old in a family

home in New Bedford," declining to name the child.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation

into the death and let the facts lead us where they may," he

added.

Calls from The Standard-Times on Wednesday

to the School Department and the New Bedford Police Department

were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Gomes, a family friend, was still

trying to understand the tragedy Wednesday.

"He just was a happy kid," she said. "He

went with everything."

"I don't understand it, how it could

happen," said Conchinha, another family friend

consoling Lopes at her home. "Every time I saw him he was so

happy."

Lopes fought back tears while leaning

against a living room wall for support.

"If anyone has a depression, any age, just

tell someone," she said.

[Guest guest]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110310/NEWS/103100339/-1/NEWSMAP

New Bedford 11-year-old is apparent suicide victim

By Curt

Brown

cbrown@...

March 10, 2011 12:00 AM

Editor's note: The Standard-Times

doesn't ordinarily publish stories about suicides that happen

in the privacy of a home unless there are extenuating

circumstances that make it newsworthy. Today, we are

publishing this story because the victim is a young boy whose

mother wants to reach out to young people who may be

struggling with thoughts of suicide.

NEW BEDFORD — Priscilla Lopes sat in her

Apache Court apartment surrounded by friends Wednesday afternoon

and spoke openly about the apparent suicide of her 11-year-old

son.

The 32-year-old unemployed mother of two

said she hoped others might learn from her son's story and seek

the help that might prevent a similar tragedy.

Elijah J. Lopes, a sixth-grader at

Middle School, who was taking medications for attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder, was found dead in his upstairs bedroom

Tuesday night after apparently hanging himself with a belt.

There were no warning signs, Priscilla

Lopes said. Nothing she saw in her son would have led her to

believe he would take his own life.

She said her son had been diagnosed with

ADHD at age 3½ and was taking the commonly prescribed medication

Concerta, a central nervous system stimulant used to treat

children and teens with ADHD. (The active ingredient in Concerta

is methylphenidate HCI or Ritalin.)

Lopes said her son's nature was to be

contrary, but he otherwise appeared to be happy.

"Elijah would argue with you," she said.

"If there was a debate team in New Bedford, he would have won —

especially when he knew he was right.

"We all just managed with Elijah. We all

knew his ups and downs."

Lopes said on the night of his death she

told Elijah to take a shower around 9:45 p.m. but he wanted to

continue playing with his uncle, Derrick Lopes. She said Elijah

went upstairs and appeared to slam the door to the bathroom.

About 20 minutes later, she said, his uncle

also went upstairs and found Elijah hanging from furniture in

his bedroom.

Despite his ADHD, Elijah was by all

accounts an active, healthy child who enjoyed riding his

skateboard, roller skating, playing video games and hanging

around with friends.

Lopes said she transferred Elijah to the

Middle School in late January because he didn't like the

Global Learning Charter Public School, which he previously

attended.

Furtado, executive director of the

charter school, said Elijah attended all of fifth grade there

and four months of sixth grade until his mother withdrew him on

Jan. 24.

Lopes said her son seemed much happier

attending . "You should have seen him. It was like night

and day," she said.

Lopes said Elijah was a New York Yankees

fan and she believes he liked the Yankees because she was an

ardent Red Sox fan.

"Just like I liked the Raiders, so he liked

the Patriots. Just to be contrary."

She said his role model was Randy Moss, the

former New England Patriots' star wide receiver. Lopes said he

liked Moss because the football player went from the Raiders to

the Patriots.

Elijah's room revealed the typical life of

a tweener — a preteen, not a child, but also not a teenager.

A television with photos of his 1-year-old

sister, Avah, on each side and a computer sat at the foot of his

bed, while one of his favorite video games, "Call of Duty: Black

Ops," lay on his bed. His mother said he really wanted

PlayStation 3 for Christmas and he gave her some money to help

buy it.

A pink piggy bank was on his dresser next

to his bed, and Amy Frias, a family friend, said Elijah was

saving money for a trip the family was planning to Florida.

Frias said she saw him at the Dartmouth

Mall on Tuesday night, hours before he is suspected of taking

his own life.

"He was yelling for me in the mall," Frias

said. "He wanted to know where my son was."

G. Desrosiers, principal at the

Middle School, sent a letter to parents noting the passing

of a student but not identifying the child.

Desrosiers added in the letter that grief

counselors will be available at today and Friday for any

child who needs assistance.

A parent of one of Elijah's friends called

Lopes Wednesday afternoon. The friend had heard another student

say there was a child who had bullied Elijah. But neither

police, school authorities nor the district attorney would

confirm an investigation into bullying.

Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for District

Attorney C. Sutter, said authorities are "extensively

investigating the unattended death of an 11-year-old in a family

home in New Bedford," declining to name the child.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation

into the death and let the facts lead us where they may," he

added.

Calls from The Standard-Times on Wednesday

to the School Department and the New Bedford Police Department

were referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Gomes, a family friend, was still

trying to understand the tragedy Wednesday.

"He just was a happy kid," she said. "He

went with everything."

"I don't understand it, how it could

happen," said Conchinha, another family friend

consoling Lopes at her home. "Every time I saw him he was so

happy."

Lopes fought back tears while leaning

against a living room wall for support.

"If anyone has a depression, any age, just

tell someone," she said.