Ex-Dairy Queen manager slapped with extra charges after she bullied teen to suicide: Prosecutor

A former Missouri Dairy Queen manager, currently awaiting trial for allegedly bullying a teen employee to the point of suicide, is facing additional charges.

People reports that on Monday, special prosecutor April Wilson charged Harley Branham, 22, of Fayette, with  two counts of harassment, two counts of first-degree aggravated stalking, and two counts of third-degree assault. Branham was already facing charges of second-degree involuntary manslaughter.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Kenneth Suttner, 17, of Glasgow, shot himself in the head in December 1, 2016, after writing numerous suicide notes that detailed horrific bullying and abuse. Branham was Suttner’s manager at the Fayette Dairy Queen.

According to a number of Dairy Queen employees, Branham ridiculed and harassed Suttner each time he reported to work. She’s accused of forcing the teen to perform degrading tasks in front others, such as cleaning the floor with his hands while lying on the floor. She also allegedly threw a cheeseburger at him and accused him of “making it wrong,” and constantly called him derogatory names, according to witnesses.

At a previous hearing, Branham declared that she didn’t understand why she was being singled out as the responsible party for Suttner’s suicide.

“There’s a lot of people at Dairy Queen saying I was the reason’ he killed himself, but I don’t understand why it would be that way.”

Branham wasn’t the only person blamed. A six-person jury found Dairy Queen responsible for failing to train employees correctly and the Glasgow School District responsible for failing to prevent bullying.

The suspect hasn’t yet entered a plea to her charges. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

[Feature Photo: Harley Branham, Kenneth Suttner/Handout]