The heartbroken parents of Autumn Bushman, a bright and spirited 10-year-old girl from Roanoke, are speaking out after her tragic death by suicide—hoping their story will prevent other families from enduring the same pain.
In the weeks before Autumn took her life on March 21, her parents, Mark and Summer Bushman, noticed a shift in their daughter. A fourth-grader at Mountain View Elementary, Autumn had always been full of life—a carefree child known for doing cartwheels in the living room and lighting up every space she entered.
“She was the youngest and probably the most free-spirited,” her mother recalled. “It didn’t matter if it looked like she was going to crash through the living room floor—she was always flipping through the house, full of energy.”
But that energy slowly began to fade.
Autumn started sleeping more, smiling less, and wearing darker clothes—small, subtle changes that now weigh heavily on her parents. They say these warning signs were symptoms of something deeper: relentless bullying that continued despite their repeated pleas for help.
“She had always stood up for other kids,” Summer explained. “She didn’t like seeing people hurt. But that kindness made her a target.”
Autumn had reportedly been bullied both at school and online. Her parents say they reached out to school officials multiple times. Though they were told the situation was being addressed, Autumn confided that the bullying never stopped.
“With phones and tablets, it follows them home,” Mark said. “There’s no safe space anymore—this isn’t just happening at school, it’s happening around the clock.”
The Roanoke County school district has since stated they are actively investigating the events that led up to Autumn’s death. “We take all reports of bullying and student conflict very seriously,” the district said in a public statement, while also citing privacy laws.
Autumn’s passing has left her community in mourning. Friends and neighbors have posted emotional tributes, remembering her as a kind, brave soul with a heart for others.
Family friend Cher Nelson Johnson shared a video montage of Autumn’s life with the message: “A beautiful girl from Roanoke is gone too soon. This is what bullying can do. It has to stop.”
Now, as the Bushman family prepares to lay their daughter to rest, they are turning their grief into a call for change.
“Talk to your children. Listen to them. Look for the quiet signs,” Mark urged. “If we can help even one family avoid this nightmare, Autumn’s voice will still be heard.”
Autumn Brooke Bushman’s visitation and funeral services will be open to the public this weekend as her loved ones gather to remember the little girl who stood up for others—and pay the ultimate price.
The heartbroken parents of Autumn Bushman, a bright and spirited 10-year-old girl from Roanoke, are speaking out after her tragic death by suicide—hoping their story will prevent other families from enduring the same pain.
In the weeks before Autumn took her life on March 21, her parents, Mark and Summer Bushman, noticed a shift in their daughter. A fourth-grader at Mountain View Elementary, Autumn had always been full of life—a carefree child known for doing cartwheels in the living room and lighting up every space she entered.
“She was the youngest and probably the most free-spirited,” her mother recalled. “It didn’t matter if it looked like she was going to crash through the living room floor—she was always flipping through the house, full of energy.”
But that energy slowly began to fade.
Autumn started sleeping more, smiling less, and wearing darker clothes—small, subtle changes that now weigh heavily on her parents. They say these warning signs were symptoms of something deeper: relentless bullying that continued despite their repeated pleas for help.
“She had always stood up for other kids,” Summer explained. “She didn’t like seeing people hurt. But that kindness made her a target.”
Autumn had reportedly been bullied both at school and online. Her parents say they reached out to school officials multiple times. Though they were told the situation was being addressed, Autumn confided that the bullying never stopped.
“With phones and tablets, it follows them home,” Mark said. “There’s no safe space anymore—this isn’t just happening at school, it’s happening around the clock.”
The Roanoke County school district has since stated they are actively investigating the events that led up to Autumn’s death. “We take all reports of bullying and student conflict very seriously,” the district said in a public statement, while also citing privacy laws.
Autumn’s passing has left her community in mourning. Friends and neighbors have posted emotional tributes, remembering her as a kind, brave soul with a heart for others.
Family friend Cher Nelson Johnson shared a video montage of Autumn’s life with the message: “A beautiful girl from Roanoke is gone too soon. This is what bullying can do. It has to stop.”
Now, as the Bushman family prepares to lay their daughter to rest, they are turning their grief into a call for change.
“Talk to your children. Listen to them. Look for the quiet signs,” Mark urged. “If we can help even one family avoid this nightmare, Autumn’s voice will still be heard.”
Autumn Brooke Bushman’s visitation and funeral services will be open to the public this weekend as her loved ones gather to remember the little girl who stood up for others—and pay the ultimate price.
