Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


1

Cyber-Sneak Mom 'Bullied My Baby to Suicide'

Trial opens in nation's first cyber-bullying case

Share

(Newser) – A mother tearfully recalled in a Los Angeles court yesterday how her 13-year-old daughter hanged herself shortly after receiving a hateful online message from a neighbor woman posing as a teenage boy, AP reports. Lori Drew allegedly created a MySpace persona named Josh to first woo then harass Megan Meier, prosecutors argued as the nation's first-ever cyber bullying case got underway.

Megan was distraught over the message from "Josh," which said the world would be a better place without her, her mom testified. Megan replied: "You are the kind of boy a girl would kill herself over." Her mother later found Megan hanging by a belt in her closet. 

Tina Meier holds two pictures of her daughter Megan who committed suicide after receiving cruel messages on MySpace.
Tina Meier holds two pictures of her daughter Megan who committed suicide after receiving cruel messages on MySpace.   (AP Photo/Tom Gannam, File)
Megan Meier, 13, who committed suicideafter receiving cruel messages on MySpace.
Megan Meier, 13, who committed suicideafter receiving cruel messages on MySpace.   (AP Photo)
Lori Drew has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and accessing computers without authorization. Her taunting messages on MySpace allegedly drove a 13-year-old to suicide.
Lori Drew has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and accessing computers without authorization. Her taunting messages on MySpace allegedly drove a 13-year-old to suicide.   (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
1 comment
VIEWING:
 
petepenguin
Nov 23, 08 11:57 AM CST
driving a ten inch spike through her forehead would be too much pity. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

37 Stories

 Wife: Depression 
 Ate German Keeper 

Enke feared he'd lose adopted daughter before train suicide

Nov 11, 09 9:50 PM CST
(Newser) - The German soccer star who committed suicide yesterday by jumping in front of a train had battled depression for years, his wife said today, with Robert Enke fearing he could lose his newly adopted daughter because of his condition. “We thought we could cope with everything. We thought that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
suicide • adoption • depression • Germany • soccer • train • 2010 World Cup • goalkeeper • Robert Enke • Teresa Enke

Facebook Bad for Teens, Warns Archbishop

Social networking degrades friendship, can lead to suicide

Aug 2, 09 1:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - Facebook and MySpace are degrading our ability to relate to one another and pushing young people to suicide, the head of the Catholic Church in England tells the Telegraph. Archbishop Vincent Nichols is concerned that social-networking websites encourage teens to form only “transient relationships,” which can leave them... More »

MORE ABOUT:
social networking • Internet • suicide • MySpace • Facebook • Bebo • community

(AP) - A Los Angeles federal judge has tentatively thrown out the convictions of a Missouri mother for her role in a MySpace hoax directed at a 13-year-old neighbor girl who ended up committing suicide. US District Judge George Wu acquitted Lori Drew of misdemeanor counts of accessing computers without authorization. Wu... More »

MORE ABOUT:
social networking • suicide • MySpace • prosecutor • bullying • Missouri • misdemeanor • cyberbullying

37 Stories


Arguments in case involving net and suicide
New York Times

U.S. woman posed as teen online, teased girl: attorney
Reuters


Crime & Courts  •  Technology 
TwitterFollow @NewserCrime on Twitter

 
suicide • MySpace • depression • cyberbullying • Megan Meier • Lori Drew • attention deficit disorder • Josh Evans • Tina Meier

from our news partners