No charges in suicide of Cherry Creek High student whose parents alleged was bullied

Greenwood Village police say there’s “no indication that anyone acted with criminal culpability”

Students at Cherry Creek High School demonstrate outside the school after walking out of class on Friday, April 5, 2019, to raise awareness about mental health and bullying. Many students hold posters featuring photos of Jack Padilla, 15, who took his own life in February. (Photo by Rachel Woolf/Special to The Denver Post)

Greenwood Village police will not pursue criminal charges against anyone after closing their investigation into the suicide of a Cherry Creek High School freshman whose family alleges was bullied by teenagers who encouraged him to harm himself.

Police opened the investigation, which has been reviewed by prosecutors, after Jack Padilla, 15, died in February.

“There is no indication that anyone acted with criminal culpability to cause this sad and tragic suicide,” Greenwood Village police spokeswoman Cyrstal Dean wrote in an email Thursday.

The teenager’s mother told The Denver Post in April that the family did not find out about what they’ve described as bullying, some of which occurred through social media, until after his death. The teen’s friends said a group of students shoved, sat on and yelled at Jack.

By JESSICA SEAMAN | jseaman@denverpost.com | The Denver Post