13-year-old dies by suicide after bullying – family says cries for help were dismissed as “seeking attention”

The loss of 13-year-old Josiah Michael Dwinell has left a family — and a wider community — grappling with grief, questions, and a painful sense that more could have been done.

Josiah had just celebrated his 13th birthday on March 4. Eight days later, his life ended in a way that has shaken everyone who knew him. For his family, the timeline is not just tragic — it is impossible to separate from the warnings they say came before it.

According to relatives, concerns about bullying and Josiah’s mental health had been raised repeatedly in the months leading up to his death. His aunt, Shaena Stebbins, described a young boy who was struggling in ways that were visible at home, even if they were not always acknowledged elsewhere.