Missing Aurora Teen Died By Suicide, Police Say

AURORA, CO. — Aurora Police said a teen who had been the focus of a missing persons search was found dead Saturday. Police said at-risk teen Jackson Langford, 16, died by suicide.

Langford, was said to have Asperger's and was considered developmentally delayed, police said. He did not come home from school on Friday, April 5, and police issued an alert. Police did not say Saturday where Langford was found.

"It is with heavy heart we report Jackson has ended his life," police tweeted Saturday evening. "Our hearts are heavy for Jackson’s family, friends, schoolmates, teachers and everyone who knew him during this tremendous loss."

Langford was identified by the police as a Cherry Creek School District student.

Two students have died by suicide at Cherry Creek High School within the past three months.

On Friday, Cherry Creek High School students staged a walkout in honor of Jack Padilla, who died by suicide on Feb. 14 at age 15. Padilla's family has asked the Greenwood Village Police to investigate whether Padilla was assaulted by fellow students who, the family said, kept up a bullying campaign texting Padilla to commit suicide.

It is with heavy heart we report Jackson has ended his life. Our hearts are heavy for Jackson’s family, friends, schoolmates, teachers and everyone who knew him during this tremendous loss.

Right now, we are focused on helping Jackson’s family. See below for more information. pic.twitter.com/Vcwla80knf
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) April" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/AuroraPD/s... 6, 2019

Resources for parents and teens

If parents are worried about their child, they can take a screening survey at Mentalhealthcolorado.org.

Other resources provided by local Colorado school districts:

• Helping Your Child Understand a Traumatic Event
• Suicide Clusters: What Can Parents Do
• When a Friend Dies of Suicide
• Understanding Child Traumatic Stress
• Helping Your Child Deal with Grief
• Crisis Text Line: crisistextline.org. Text 741741 from anywhere in the nation to reach a counselor.
• Safe2Tell

Parents who are worried that their child may be having symptoms of depression can look for early warning signs, which include:

• Having trouble with schoolwork
• Not participating in activities you used to enjoy
• Sadness and hopelessness
• Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation
• Overreaction to criticism
• Feelings of being unable to meet expectations
• Poor self-esteem or guilt
• Problems with making decisions, lack of concentration or forgetfulness
• Restlessness and agitation
• Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
• Rebelling against parents, teachers, or other authority figures
• Suicidal thoughts or actions

If you need someone to talk to, call Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners at 844-493-TALK.