A 17-year-old boy from California killed himself four months after his dad died of COVID after blaming himself for the fatal infection by asking his family to attend his high school pep rally.
In August 2021, the Reyes family of five - mom Stephanie, dad Anthony Sr and their three teenage kids - were brimming with hope for a bright future as they prepared to move into their new home in Whittier.
By January 2022, Stephanie Reyes, 37, was left raising her two surviving daughters, Reyna and Marissa, on her own after losing her husband to COVID, and her son, Anthony Jr, to suicide at least partially inspired by guilt.
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Anthony Reyes Sr, 46 (left), a married dad-of-four, died of COVID on September 11, 2021, and his son, Anthony Jr, 17 (right), died by suicide four months later
Stephanie Reyes, 37, says her son was blaming himself for his father's death because he had invited his family to a pep rally, where they all likely contracted COVID
The grieving mom said the 17-year-old considered himself responsible for his father's COVID diagnosis because he had invited his family to a pep rally at school, where they all likely contracted the illness, reported Los Angeles Times.
Anthony Jr struggled with depression, and in August 2020 described in a school essay how the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on his mental state because he was unable to see his friends and girlfriend because of quarantine.
The Reyes family were unvaccinated against COVID because they were concerned about their various medical conditions and possible side effects from the jab.
Anthony Reyes Sr was 46 and working at a power plant when he came down with the virus in late August, along with his wife and children.
Within a week of his diagnosis, the
