Adult neighbors harass thirteen year old via MySpace into committing suicide

[teforde23]

Here's a link to video on CNN
Parents say fake online 'friend' led to girl's suicide - CNN.com

[Mira]

Thanks teforde.

Here's a link to an online article talking about proposed local ordinances to prevent further such incidents:
The Associated Press: Mom: Web Hoax Led Girl to Kill Herself

Jeffrey Toobin's take is that strict causation laws are preventing the case from moving forward.

[xavier_moon]

I read this story today and it totally yanked my chain. You know what's really wrong about this? Protecting the identity of these people in the main stream news... But, their identities have been leaked on the Internet...along with their address...not saying it's right...but...

What kind of middle-aged mother does stuff like this? Prosecutors are now saying they are going to review the incident. I just hope they can come up with something. What these people did to this girl was mean and they deserve some type of legal action. Short of that, their community should make it very uncomfortable for them...not violence or harassment...just good ol' fashion shunning.

[Elyse]

And now there is a whole new retaliation blog against Megan called

Megan Had It Coming

Yes. Seriously. Some girl who knew the suicide victim has made a blog about why Megan, like totally, deserved to kill herself.

There's something very bizarre about this whole case. It's not just the fact that it has so much to do with online interactions but that it has taken a whole year for the case to get publicized, that the crazy neighbors' identities are still being protected (although you can easily find out their identities online), that the DA's office hasn't filed a single charge against the crazy neighbors. I even find it weird that the parents haven't filed suit against the neighbors, and have completely ruled it out..

Basically, the neighbors have gotten away scot-free and nobody knew what they had done for an entire year until the blogs got a hold of the St.Charles Journal story. I wonder if they have some good connections.

Something about this case doesn't add up.

[Mira]

Excerpt From the above-linked blog:

"And Megan totally talked shit about everyone, including Laura. After she told Laura off, she went around to all her friends to get everyone on her side as if it was this huge divorce or something calling Laura a slut and a bitch so whatev.

So yeah Laura's mom checked up on Megan to see what was up and give her a taste of her own medicine. And it's not like Laura's mom did this whole campaign like you see on the news. She was pretending to be this nice guy for six weeks and then said two mean things in one day and that was it."

Interesting. This is a complex case that goes well beyond the "causation issues" mentioned on CNN by legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. Gonna take a while to shake out... if ever.

[twitchy]

Originally Posted by Elyse

Some girl who knew the suicide victim has made a blog about why Megan, like totally, deserved to kill herself.

Someone claiming to be a girl and claiming to have known Megan wrote that. There's no indication that it is any more real than "Josh" at this point.

[Mira]

^true. By now it shouldn't have been too difficult to find out who actually wrote the blog.

[Mariesoleil]

Originally Posted by Mira

Excerpt From the above-linked blog:

"And Megan totally talked shit about everyone, including Laura. After she told Laura off, she went around to all her friends to get everyone on her side as if it was this huge divorce or something calling Laura a slut and a bitch so whatev.

So yeah Laura's mom checked up on Megan to see what was up and give her a taste of her own medicine. And it's not like Laura's mom did this whole campaign like you see on the news. She was pretending to be this nice guy for six weeks and then said two mean things in one day and that was it."

Interesting. This is a complex case that goes well beyond the "causation issues" mentioned on CNN by legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. Gonna take a while to shake out... if ever.

An adult would have gone to Megan's parents and discussed it with them, not created a fucking fake MySpace account to "give her some of her own medecine". Adults should know enough not to act like teenagers. That's why they're called adults.

The mother has some serious issues. I seriously hope she goes to jail for this. What a sad, sad world we live in. Some people it seems are born without a conscience and take pleasure in harming others. I always try to go by the phrase: "Don't judge a person before you've walked a mile in their shoes." But in a situation like this it's awfully hard not to judge

[Mira]

^yeah, agreed. Gotta wonder what is the maturity level and character of that neighbor mother.

For myself, I'm not happy that there isn't some way at the moment that she can be prosecuted and have it stick.

This is so offensive:
"So nobody in the news talks about what Megan the bitch was like so now you know. Oh and don't bother trying to figure out who I am. Unlike Megan, I DO have a boyfriend and he knows computers and he totally covered my tracks."

Sorry doll. The local authorities and the FBI probably already know who you are.

[xavier_moon]

Originally Posted by Mira

^yeah, agreed. Gotta wonder what is the maturity level and character of that neighbor mother.

For myself, I'm not happy that there isn't some way at the moment that she can be prosecuted and have it stick.

This is so offensive:
"So nobody in the news talks about what Megan the bitch was like so now you know. Oh and don't bother trying to figure out who I am. Unlike Megan, I DO have a boyfriend and he knows computers and he totally covered my tracks."

Sorry doll. The local authorities and the FBI probably already know who you are.

Dang...what kind of people live in that town?

[KrisNine]

Oh, for the love!! I can't believe this. Whether it's really a girl that knew Megan or not, it's just psychotic and sick!

[january]

God, people are sick. What kind of person would make a blog saying any person, bitch or not, deserved suicide? Man, this girl is probably rolling in her grave right now, she has no voice to lend her side of the story. Lori herself probably wrote that blog. I don't give a shit whether this girl was a queen bitch or not, my sole issue is that what this mother did was WRONG, and not just wrong, but depraved. And some people still don't get that? Its not even like she made a myspace and gave the girl trouble, I mean, she put in the effort of trolling her for six whole weeks. Its really mind-boggling that a woman could be that interfering in her daughter's affairs that she even cares about the petty childhood drama of two girls falling out (which happens every day for teenagers).

And I read on another site that Lori is actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce and is chummy with the police department there, which is probably why nothing has happened with this case whatsoever. Frustrating.

[Mira]

I'm wondering if this Lori woman really wrote the blog. She may have been emboldended due to the fact that they aren't currently proceeding with prosecution due to the causation issues. If she did write this, she's really something. I really kind of doubt it. She shouldn't press her luck. They're going to get her somehow though. I think public opinion may well help move this case forward in the favor of Megan's parents.

[Mariesoleil]

Originally Posted by Mira

I'm wondering if this Lori woman really wrote the blog. She may have been emboldended due to the fact that they aren't currently proceeding with prosecution due to the causation issues. If she did write this, she's really something. I really kind of doubt it. She shouldn't press her luck. They're going to get her somehow though. I think public opinion may well help move this case forward in the favor of Megan's parents.

There's no doubt in my mind that she really is something. With what she's done already I wouldn't put it past her to start up that blog.

I certainly hope people's opinion will help Megan's parents. That woman did not only ruin the life of one person, but of all the people around Megan as well. From a person who's had to live with the suicide of a loved one I can tell you that it's very, very hard and that it impacts the rest of your life.

[Mira]

I agree, and I'm sorry for your loss, Marie. I wish I could find a clip with Jeffrey Toobin's comments, because I don't remember exactly what he said about the causation issues, and why the D.A.'s office is reluctant to press charges against that woman. The nerve of her father answering the door though and making light of it.

Does anyone remember a news item about this when it happened? Seems like it was kept on the back burner. Maybe something else eclipsed it, which often happens.