06/07/2026
One of the most overlooked stories in this entire conversation may be the one the media chose not to emphasize.
When the Sun Herald covered the tragic death of Stephenie “Stevie” English, the article acknowledged what su***de prevention experts have said for years: there is rarely a single cause for su***de, and great caution should be taken before reducing a tragedy to one narrative. Yet the headline and framing still centered heavily on bullying.
Buried within that story was a powerful message from Stevie’s father, Jason English. He wasn’t calling for blame. He wasn’t naming enemies. He wasn’t demanding retribution.
He warned against glamorizing su***de.
He warned against turning tragedy into a social media movement.
He warned that another vulnerable child might see it and begin to believe su***de is the answer.
Nearly two years later, Jason is still saying the same thing. On a recent post, he stated that he believes his daughter copied Aubreigh “to a T” and that she might still be here had she not been exposed to the constant online glorification surrounding the story.
Whether people agree with him or not, his voice deserves to be heard. He is speaking from the unimaginable pain of losing a child and asking others to consider the consequences of how these tragedies are portrayed and promoted.
Awareness is meant to prevent loss of life. If the messaging surrounding a tragedy inspires imitation, that’s not awareness—that’s contagion.
What stands out most about Jason’s journey isn’t anger. It isn’t blame. It’s faith.
His public testimony speaks of redemption, healing, and surrendering his grief to God. He doesn’t appear consumed by finding someone to punish. Instead, he has chosen to carry his loss with grace while warning others about the dangers he believes contributed to it.
His message offers something desperately needed in these conversations: hope.
Not hope found in hashtags, social media campaigns, or public shaming, but hope found in faith, compassion, mentorship, and reaching the child who is struggling before it’s too late.
That is a message worth amplifying.