Carl Walker wasn't the first child to be bullied and he probably won't be the last. But his death has other families expressing concern about their kids being pushed to the limit by school bullies.

Donna Piela is a retired school teacher. She taught in Springfield schools for 20 years and knows first hand how damaging bullying can be. But she never thought it would hit so close to home. She says her 10 year old grandson has become the target for a group of bullies at Thomas M. Balliet School in Springfield.

"He was playing with the girls and that's how it started, the boys started harassing him because he'd spend his time with the girls and then it became verbal and then it became physical," said Retired Teacher Donna Piela.

Piela says the bullying has changed her once fun loving confident grandson completely.

"He's a completely different kid he has no self esteem, he thinks nobody likes him and he's beautiful, he's got such a big heart," added Piela.

Piela says the bullying has been going on since September. In November she wrote a letter to Dr. Alan Ingram pleading for help.

"When I heard my grandson being bullied like this I thought the Superintendent will put a stop to it but there is nothing happening there."

Piela says 11 year old Carl Walker Hoover's tragedy hits too close to home and is afraid of how further bullying may affect her grandson.

"Very very scared, matter of fact I'm so scared that I told my daughter yesterday when they were here for Easter that if it keeps going on and keeps escalating like this I'm a certified teacher I will home school him before I ever let anything happen to him," said Piela.

We did make phone calls to the Springfield Superintendents office to see what's being done. Those calls went un-returned.