13 Year Old Girl Killed Herself Over Online Hoax!

#1
Teen distraught at end of MySpace relationship; neighbor family created ID

DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo. - Megan Meier thought she had made a new friend in cyberspace when a cute teenage boy named Josh contacted her on MySpace and began exchanging messages with her.

Megan, a 13-year-old who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, corresponded with Josh for more than a month before he abruptly ended their friendship, telling her he had heard she was cruel.

The next day Megan committed suicide. Her family learned later that Josh never actually existed; he was created by members of a neighborhood family that included a former friend of Megan's.

Now Megan's parents hope the people who made the fraudulent profile on the social networking Web site will be prosecuted, and they are seeking legal changes to safeguard children on the Internet.

The girl's mother, Tina Meier, said she doesn't think anyone involved intended for her daughter to kill herself.

‘Absolutely vile’
"But when adults are involved and continue to screw with a 13-year-old, with or without mental problems, it is absolutely vile," she told the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis, which first reported on the case.

Tina Meier said law enforcement officials told her the case did not fit into any law. But sheriff's officials have not closed the case and pledged to consider new evidence if it emerges.

Megan Meier hanged herself in her bedroom on Oct. 16, 2006, and died the next day. She was described as a "bubbly, goofy" girl who loved spending time with her friends, watching movies and fishing with her dad.

Megan had been on medication, but had been upbeat before her death, her mother said, after striking up a relationship on MySpace with Josh Evans about six weeks before her death.

Josh told her he was born in Florida and had recently moved to the nearby community of O'Fallon. He said he was homeschooled, and didn't yet have a phone number in the area to give her.

Megan's parents said she received a message from him on Oct. 15 of last year, essentially saying he didn't want to be her friend anymore, that he had heard she wasn't nice to her friends.

Megan seemed upset
The next day, as Megan's mother headed out the door to take another daughter to the orthodontist, she knew Megan was upset about Internet messages. She asked Megan to log off. Users on MySpace must be at least 14, though Megan was not when she opened her account. A MySpace spokeswoman did not return calls seeking comment.

Someone using Josh's account was sending cruel messages. Then, Megan called her mother, saying electronic bulletins were being posted about her, saying things like, "Megan Meier is a [Swearing is not permitted at Clublakers. You must edit this post prior to submitting.]. Megan Meier is fat."

Megan's mother, who monitored her daughter's online communications, returned home and said she was shocked at the vulgar language her own daughter was sending. She told her daughter how upset she was about it.

Megan ran upstairs, and her father, Ron, tried to tell her everything would be fine. About 20 minutes later, she was found in her bedroom. She died the next day.


Her father said he found a message the next day from Josh, which he said law enforcement authorities have not been able to retrieve. It told the girl she was a bad person and the world would be better without her, he has said.

Another parent, who learned of the MySpace account from her own daughter who had access to the Josh profile, told Megan's parents about the hoax in a counselor's office about six weeks after Megan died. That's when they learned Josh was imaginary, they said.

Creator of fake account not charged
The woman who created the fake profile has not been charged with a crime. She allegedly told the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department she created Josh's profile because she wanted to gain Megan's confidence to know what Megan was saying about her own child online.

The mother from down the street told police that she, her daughter and another person all typed and monitored the communication between the fictitious boy and Megan.

A person who answered the door at the family's house told an Associated Press reporter on Friday afternoon that they had been advised not to comment.

Megan's parents had been storing a foosball table for the family that created the MySpace character. Six weeks after Megan's death, they learned the other family had created the profile and responded by destroying the foosball table, dumping it on the neighbors' driveway and encouraging them to move away.

Megan's parents are now separated and plan to divorce.

Aldermen in Dardenne Prairie, a community of about 7,000 residents about 35 miles from St. Louis, have proposed a new ordinance related to child endangerment and Internet harassment. It could come before city leaders on Wednesday.

"Is this enough?" Mayor Pam Fogarty said Friday. "No, not by any stretch of the imagination, but it's something, and you have to start somewhere."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21844203/page/2/

That's just sick.
 

S O F I

Administrator
Staff member
#2
She allegedly told the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department she created Josh's profile because she wanted to gain Megan's confidence to know what Megan was saying about her own child online.
WHO THE FUCK does this? What a retarded parent.
 

Tha_Wood

Underboss
Staff member
#3
thats messed up. you think an adult would be more mature than to start shit with a 13 year old girl on the internet. give the bitch the death sentence. kill her daughter first to let her know how it feels aswell.
 

keco52

Well-Known Member
Staff member
#6
The parents of the girl that died...broke the foosball table and threw it in the fake myspacers yard? Is that correct?

Way to get em back!! :rolleyes:

The fact that it was a grown ass women is disgusting but she can't really be held accountable for someone else commiting suicide. The girls head wasn't right.
 

ArtsyGirl

Well-Known Member
#7
People care too much about what other people think. When your a depressed 13 year old rational thinking is rare. I seriously dont think I'd let my future kids use the internet for this.
 

S O F I

Administrator
Staff member
#8
Yeah, what she did doesn't fall within the limits of the law, although I'm pretty sure a good lawyer will find a way.

If we had a Dexter, justice would be served. :D

People care too much about what other people think. When your a depressed 13 year old rational thinking is rare. I seriously dont think I'd let my future kids use the internet for this.
I don't think that's the way to go about this. It'd be better for you to sit your kids down and talk to them about the dangers of the internet. There's no way that in ten years, parents will be able to stop teens from internet access. Even now, it's nearly impossible because of internet access in schools and libraries.

If you prevent a child from engaging in common activities, the child will rebel.
 

ArtsyGirl

Well-Known Member
#11
I don't think that's the way to go about this. It'd be better for you to sit your kids down and talk to them about the dangers of the internet. There's no way that in ten years, parents will be able to stop teens from internet access. Even now, it's nearly impossible because of internet access in schools and libraries.

If you prevent a child from engaging in common activities, the child will rebel.
My kids will know that I am th LAW, rebellion will be struck down with a vicious blow! haha I know and it seems silly to hold this view in this day and age, but no matter how much you tell your kids about the "dangers" that does not protect them. I'm sure the parents of this girl told her the same.
 

keco52

Well-Known Member
Staff member
#12
^ I kind of agree with sofi. There's no point in trying to shelter them from it bc they'll eventually be exposed to "bad ppl" and they'll need to know how to handle it.
 

S O F I

Administrator
Staff member
#13
Well, if you have a clinically diagnosed kid with depression coupled with ADD, you have to come to grips with reality and realize your kid is different from the other kids. Therefore, your parenting has to change accordingly. But, I don't think you're planning to have a depressed ADD child? :) The parents made a mistake in letting the child's happiness depend on an online relationship. They let it go on thinking that it was OK as long as they monitored what was said. They didn't think about the consequences of the relationship "ending".
 

ArtsyGirl

Well-Known Member
#15
It all makes sense and I know theres little chance of stopping it. I just hate seeing lil kids on the net saying and acting like sluts etc and posting personal info, its just asking for trouble. If my plan doesnt work close monitoring may be the sensible option.
 

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