Judge approves settlement in Hallsville suicide case

A federal judge on Tuesday approved a settlement between the family of a girl who killed herself in 2017 and the Hallsville School District.

Attorneys for Rylie Wagner’s family reached a settlement with the Hallsville School District on Monday and federal Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr., approved it Tuesday in Jefferson City.

Although the terms of the settlement were not public record, attorneys had requested the district pay for just more than 33 percent of the attorney fees.

“In a word it’s closure,” Chip Gentry, the lawyer for Rylie’s family, said about the settlement. “It’s, you know, any time there’s a tragedy that folks are willing to move on from it’s important to do just that and move on and provide the family some privacy as they continue their healing process.”

Gentry said the hearing to get the judge’s approval was required because the cause involved a wrongful death claim.

Rylie Wagner’s parents said in 2017 that their 13-year-old daughter took her own life because she was bullied at school, including being targeted for her gender and sexual orientation. Rylie was 13 when she died in April 2017.

Rylie’s mother said her daughter went to a counselor before taking her own life, but the school did not do enough to stop the problem.

The school district released the following statement after the judge’s decision.

The Hallsville community continues to mourn the loss of Rylie Wagner, a bright and talented student who died in April 2017. We are hopeful that the settlement offered by Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC), the Hallsville School District’s insurance provider, will help bring closure to Rylie’s family.

As specified in the settlement agreement, the District denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing by the Board of Education, administrators, teachers, or other employees. Our District takes all allegations of bullying seriously and completes a full investigation into every report of such allegations. We continue to encourage students and families to bring any concerns to our attention so they may be addressed appropriately. The Hallsville School District’s faculty, staff, and administrators are committed to and continue to focus on the education, safety, and mental health of all students.

Sign up for email news alerts by clicking here