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October 10, 2008 3:51:42 PM CDT

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Online Suicide Brings Fury of Neighbors

Posted Nov 22, 07 10:33 PM CST in Crime & Courts,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – The two parents who used MySpace to harass a teenage girl so relentlessly that she committed suicide are now the target of internet vigilantes, the Los Angeles Times reports. When prosecutors could not mount a case, angry neighbors posted the family's address, photos, and phone numbers on blogs. Their workplaces have been flooded with calls, protesters gather outside their house, and people shout "Murderer" as they drive by.

The couple created a fictional 13-year-old boy online and struck up a relationship with Megan Meier, 13. When they turned against her, Megan killed herself. No charges were filed, raising the ire of the small community near St. Louis. "There's never been any sense of remorse or public apology from the Drews," said one neighbor. The city council this week made cyber-harassment a misdemeanor.

Sources Los Angeles Times, Associated Press

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MySpace  • suicide  • harassment  • vigilante justice


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