Father's Plea Ignited Son's Bullies, Police Say

A father's attempt to stop his son's bullies instead triggered a severe escalation in violence, according to authorities. Rick Kuehner took action after his son suffered repeated attacks. He contacted officials at his son's suburban school. He filed reports with local police. He spoke directly to other parents. The response was not a resolution. The assaults intensified, becoming worse than before. The case reveals a difficult problem: standard interventions can sometimes make targeted bullying more severe. Investigations are ongoing.