Rockwall Mother Says Daughter's Suicide “Unexplainable”

The mother of a Rockwall girl who committed suicide last month says she hopes the memory of her daughter will save someone else.

Brianna Escobedo, 14, took her life inside her home on May 22. Her mother, Christina Harrison, says a picture of her daughter showing the "OK" sign gives her strength.

"It's like she's telling me, 'It's OK,' you know?" Harrison said.

Harrison said the eighth-grader was full of life and loved playing sports at Utley Middle School.

But the question everyone still can't answer is: Why?

"It's unexplainable," Harrison said. "It's something you never prepare for. It's something that you never, in your wildest dreams would imagine. I didn't see signs, and that's what hurts so bad, is that I am looking for that sign still."

Escobedo's death was the second suicide in a month. A Rockwall High School student died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 25.

School district leaders and experts hosted on Tuesday night an open talk about suicide in hopes of preventing any more. The talk explored how stress and depression affects teenagers and their families and discussed warning signs and prevention techniques.

"I'm the parent of a 16-year-old daughter, and I know that we have to be diligent when we watch moods, interactions on social media, when we talk to our students about what's going on at school," said Rockwall school district spokeswoman Sheri Fowler.

The school district held a similar forum last fall, but only seven people showed up. In light of the recent tragedies, the district hopes to see a stronger turnout.

"I do not want this to ever happen again, to anybody," Harrison said. "This is not fun. This [is] not something that any family should ever feel."

The suicide and prevention forum, which was held at the Rockwall High School Performing Arts Center, was open to everyone.