Susan Mello, the mother of a former Rogers High School student-athlete in Newport, R.I., filed a lawsuit this week against school officials and the city of Newport, alleging the school failed to protect her son from a locker room assault.
According to 10 WJAR, in October 2025, a viral video showed students whipping Mello’s son in the locker room. He had complained to his mother about the bullying for months, and she had tried to warn school officials who did not take her concerns seriously.
At the time of the incident, Newport Public School superintendent Colleen Burns Jermaine said, "It has been brought to our attention that before football games, there is somewhat of a practice that includes 'roughhousing' and players hitting each other. One of the players took this to an extreme level that is entirely unacceptable. Even more disturbing, the video we have seen shows other players not intervening or bringing this matter to the attention of an adult."
Four students were eventually arrested in connection with that incident, and the school’s principal Jared Vance was placed on leave. The Newport School Committee commissioned an independent investigation, but the results of that investigation have not been made public.
Related: Two HS Students Arrested, Football Season Canceled After Special Needs Student Assaulted
In her lawsuit, Mellow aims to make the school release the full investigative report and seeks monetary damages.
“We really need to know the truth about what the findings were," she said. "You can't just leak out half a truth and expect it to be over."
Mello says that more than a year after the locker room incident, her son has not returned to Rogers High School. He has struggled with fear and anxiety, and he has had difficulty sleeping after the attack. She says she hopes her lawsuit prevents this from happening to another student.
"The only real way is to protect the other kids [that are] coming up," Mello said. "And if that means I have to sue the district, then I have to sue the district."
