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Parents Say Fake MySpace "Friend" Led to Teenage Girl's Suicide
CNN reports: Family says a 13 year old girl was so upset after "Josh" ended their friendship on MySpace that she committed suicide in October 2006. "Josh" turned out to be the creation of a neighborhood family. The parents want the people who made the fraudulent online profile to be prosecuted but law enforcement officials say the case doesn't fit into any law. [JH]
November 18, 2007 in MySpace | Permalink
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The 13 year old girl had no business on myspace anyway...it was irresponsible of parents to allow their children that kind of access to the internet, monitored or not. There's a reason these websites have age specifications. The parents should look at why and online relationship was so important to this girl...hmmmmm...maybe she wasn't getting what she needed at home. Stop blaming everyone else, when you point on finger there are three pointing back at you. As for the other family shame on the adults involved in that whatever happened to parents talking to parents about problems between kids or letting the kids work it out themselves. Teenagers talk about one another all the time...the problem with millenials is that parents haven't taught them how to work through problems instead they fix everything for their kids....let them grow up.
Posted by: Yolonda | Nov 18, 2007 7:16:47 AM
I'm sorry to inform these parents that the only person responsible for their child's suicide is their child. No one is to blame except the person involved. You cannot blame anyone for suicide except the person who took their own life.
Posted by: Chrissy Mullis | Nov 18, 2007 7:29:24 AM
The parents of the girl are to blame here. They allowed their daughter on MySpace illegally. They should be indicted, not the 'Josh' family. Also, you can't go blame others if the girl couldn't handle comments about herself. That's her issue.
Parents today need to grow up and take responsibility. They are always blaming others for their children's deficiencies, whether it's at school, sports, or ability to cope with criticism.
Posted by: ab | Nov 18, 2007 8:56:50 AM
The Parents who posted the My Space Friend, should be Sued for causing a wrongful death, and have everything that they worked for taken away...and be made to pay for the rest of their lives. that woman inh many counties of this world would be put to death for what she did..Make her pay & pay big. The laws should be changed to make mher pay by Jail time also..
Posted by: Bill | Nov 18, 2007 9:09:34 AM
If what the father said was true that there was a letter from "josh" that stated the world would be a better place without her, then could not the DA press charges against the one parent that created the "josh" account for child endangerment, or something similar? Is there not some type of law that protects children from emotional abuse, in this case from an adult that suggesting suicide? What that one parent did was sick and demented; think about it, she emotionally attacked a child online with assistance from her own child? How sick is that! If anything, something should be done to protect children from her obviously repulsive character.
Posted by: Concerned Parent | Nov 18, 2007 2:42:43 PM
The adults should be locked in jail and hte kids in juvanile hall or in foster homes to learn right from wrong. The other family needs to pay financially
Posted by: Lisa Smith | Nov 18, 2007 3:04:00 PM
I can't believe they won't prosecute these morons. Doesn't fit into any law? An adult harassing a mentally ill child to the point of suicide...hmmm, I'm sure if they put their minds to it they can come up with some pretty legitimate charges.
Posted by: jeanie | Nov 20, 2007 2:45:19 AM
THE US COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT OF 1996
While the Communications Act referred only to "interstate or foreign communication (harassment) by means of telephone", the amended version proposed in 1996 (called the Telecommunications Act) changed that text to refer instead to "interstate or foreign communication (harassment) by means of a telecommunications device." This change was brought about directly by the rise of harassment on the rapidly growing Internet, and the subsequent lack of legislation to deal with it.
Title V of this bill was named Obscene Or Harassing Use Of Telecommunications Facilities Under The Communications Act Of 1934. Section. 501 of this new bill named it the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and proposed to amend the Communications Act to make illegal the use of a telecommunications device (i.e. including Internet technology) that:
makes, creates, or solicits, and initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent, with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person
-or-
makes a telephone call or utilizes a telecommunications device, whether or not conversation or communication ensues, without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person at the called number or who receives the communications;
-or-
makes repeated telephone calls or repeatedly initiates communication with a telecommunications device, during which conversation or communication ensues, solely to harass any person at the called number or who receives the communication.
These US Federal anti cyberstalking laws were passed in 1996. While other parts of the CDA failed to satisfy the US Supreme Court and were struck down as infringing on Free Speech, the anti cyberstalking sections were not challenged.
The CDA text and associated documents can be found at The US House of Representatives Internet Law Library
Posted by: angela | Nov 20, 2007 8:51:30 PM
As details about Lori Drew's 6 week cyber-voyeur techniques emerged, the more I am convinced that outing this kind of behavior is not only right, but essential. Essential? Why?
It is becoming clearer and clearer that Lori Drew employed many of the same grooming techniques that child predators utilize to charm their way into gaining a child's trust. Even Lori herself reported to police that she created the MySpace account in order to find out what Megan was saying.
The most significant key here is that Lori Drew spent approximately 6 full weeks baiting Megan into this trust by posing as a "cute" boy that Megan would be attracted to. Right there, Drew utilizes the sexual stimulation that exists in male/female pair bonding in order to manipulate the 13 year old girl.
Lori Drew groomed her victim like many child predators do, enticing her with flirtation, mild sexual conversation and playing on Megan's weakness. Lori knew that Megan had a low self esteem and was treated for depression.
Outing Child Predators has been public policy in most states and is usually upheld under the premise that the public has a right to reasonably protect itself from criminal behavior where it exists. Families with children have a right to know when those who might prey upon their child, live nearby. Public policy dictates that if a child is exposed to potential harm from predatory activity, then parents should at least have the opportunity to be aware such harm may exist.
It is the predatory nature of this case that bears striking resemblance to the public policy. The only difference in this case is that the alleged perpetrator of this heinous act has not been charged or convicted.
Thus far, details in the case have been heavily supported by Lori Drew's own admissions, police records and interviews. The amount of speculation in this case has been minimal, and the majority of public outrage has largely focused on the facts presented.
The Missouri Public Records Act of 1961 were devised partially to inform the public of persons, events, proceedings and reports that may effect the public directly. These records (such as the charges Lori Drew filed against the Meier family), were the principal documents used to tie Lori Drew to her abhorrent acts. By filing this police report, Lori in effect put herself into the spot light. The Blogging community simply connected the dots and reported the results.
The Vice enjoys the sharp irony that Lori Drew's own actions, activities and zeal to hurt eventually lead to her own uncovering. As I see it, public policy laws and Lori Drew's own manipulations of those laws worked to her undoing. The Vice is appreciative for Lori Drew's assistance in these efforts.
Danny Vice
http://weeklyvice.blogspot.com
Posted by: Danny Vice | Nov 21, 2007 3:20:38 PM
I dont know how the mother who created the imaginary account could live with herself. You would think she was the 13 yr. old
Posted by: Karla | Nov 24, 2007 2:27:57 PM
there is something that doesnt seem right with creating new accounts and multiple accounts..
Posted by: myspace games | Aug 11, 2008 1:47:50 PM
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