'Bullied' La Grande boy taken off life support, in critical condition

A 15-year-old boy who hanged himself at an elementary school in La Grande a week and a half ago was in critical condition Wednesday morning at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Jadin Bell was taken off life support on Saturday night, said Bud Hill, a longtime family friend. Bell, who is gay, had seen a school counselor a week before his attempted suicide to complain about bullying, Hill said.

"I won't say that that was the whole cause but it was a contributor," Hill said. "We were aware that some bullying was going on. We were trying to address it."

Hill said that Bell was called names by some classmates at

over being openly gay.

"He was very proud of it," Hill said. "His parents were very supportive as was the rest of the family."

Jadin Bell has one younger brother and an older brother and sister. His parents and older brother are in Portland, ensuring that someone is in the hospital room around-the-clock.

The family decided to take him off life support this past Saturday night after tests showed a lack of brain activity, Hill said.

"We expected him to pass last night," Hill said. "He's not getting any better but he's still hanging in there."

Hill considers Jadin Bell to be a part of his family. "He's called me Uncle Bud his whole life," Hill said.

He said he's been riding a nightmarish roller coaster of emotions since Jadin Bell hanged himself, slamming into grief and then thoughts of the future.

Hill, an electrician at Eastern Oregon University, would like to do something to prevent other teens from suffering the same fate by creating an educational foundation focused on bullying behavior.

"I feel like I have a calling," Hill said. "There has to be a voice for all of this. These kids -- everyone -- have to be educated."

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