The mother of a 16-year-old who died after a fight said she's upset harsher charges haven't been filed in the case.
On Monday, emergency crews found Dakota DeRemus dead behind the apartment he shared with his mom in Gardner, Kan. He had collapsed after a fight.
A schoolmate of Dakota's, 16-year-old Dustin Howard, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Howard is accused of unintentionally killing DeRemus while committing battery.
"He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve this one bit. He's just a young man -- he had his whole life ahead of him," Angela Meiries, Dakota's mother, told KMBC's Maria Antonia.
Meiries said her son was bulled at Gardner Edgerton High School and that she had told the school about it. She said she's upset it didn't do more to prevent the bullying.
"I went to the school, I was on the phone with the school, I was up at the school every week," Meiries said. "Give me some answers. Somebody stand up for him -- that's what I'm asking for."
During Howard's court hearing Wednesday, Scott DeRemus, Dakota's father, yelled at Howard's mother and stepfather: "Two years! Two years your son has been bullying my son."
"I want to know why the bullying was allowed to keep going on," Meiries said.
School officials said they are investigating the bullying complaint.
Meiries said she's also upset that Howard wasn't charged with murder and that more charges weren't filed against other boys who were there.
"First I heard there were four kids and they videotaped it on their camera phone. Now, I've heard there were five boys," Meiries said. "How can you not charge them? That is my question."
Meiries said she was told homicide charges would be filed in the case.
"I was told it was all in the hands of the police department, the (district attorney's) office, and it would be taken care of and I'd have no worries," Meiries said. "I want justice for my son."
Gardner police said they have identified and are interviewing other kids who were at the fight.
Prosecutors said they feel they can prove the involuntary manslaughter charge against Howard. Even though Dakota DeRemus had a heart condition, prosecutors said that's not a factor in their case, but the defense is likely to bring it up.
Scott DeRemus was detained by police after his courtroom outburst. He told KMBC he is considering legal action against the sheriff's department and that its members used excessive force on him.
A representative with the sheriff's department said it is are filing a report with the district attorney to see if Scott DeRemus should be charged with disorderly conduct.
Some students have posted messages on Facebook about the incident.
One anonymous post said, "I just wish I would have had a chance to apologize for being such a jerk."
Lauren wrote: "In some cases, (Dakota's) personality was disliked -- you knew that he was often in the position of being picked on."
"He did get in a lot of fight(s) for someone in his condition," Kiley wrote.
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Ruling Upsets Mom Of Teen Who Died In Fightby kmbctv19,554 views
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