Woman guilty in case of teen MySpace suicide

[Yuukee]

A Missouri woman who posed as a 16-year-old boy on MySpace.com to woo and then rebuff a troubled teenage girl who later committed suicide was found guilty Wednesday of three misdemeanor charges, but no felonies, by a federal jury. The jury rejected felony charges against Lori Drew of accessing a computer without authorization to inflict emotional distress. Drew, 49, of O’Fallon, Mo., allegedly posed as the boy to harass a former friend of her daughter’s. The jury did, however, find her guilty of three misdemeanor counts of violating the terms of service with MySpace.

The verdict in the nationally watched cyber-bullying case comes nearly two years after the death of Megan Meier, 13, who is referred to in court documents as “M.T.M.” Megan hanged herself with a belt in her bedroom closet within an hour of being rejected by “Josh Evans,” the fictitious identity that Drew assumed on the popular networking Web site. During the five-day trial, they portrayed Drew as masterminding a scheme to humiliate Megan even though she knew that the girl — once her daughter’s best friend — had depression. Drew wanted to know whether Megan was spreading rumors about her daughter, prosecutors argued, and bragged about the hoax. Four weeks into the exchanges, Josh broke off contact with Megan, punctuated, her father said, by a message that “the world would be a better place without” her. Within an hour of receiving it, Megan committed suicide.

[SSJ5]

That is messed up, really terrible.

[DarkWings44]

That is horrible that she would play on the girl's emotions like that. The whole "the world would be a better place without her" thing was particularly harsh. However, I think it is really sad that the girl would hang herself because a guy rejected her. Guys aren't that great.

[Karyuudan]

How terrible she was only 13 too.

[huh311420]

this is such a good reminder to pick who you talk 2 online more carefully.

[DarkUmagon]

While she obviously did something wrong, I think she shouldn't get any jail time because her aim was not to make hte girl kill herself.

[Karyuudan]

Saying “the world would be a better place without” about a girl who she knew was suffering from depression is pretty dumb but I've heard of people going to jail for less.
She should get like 6 weeks or something imo

[Negatiw]

Sick and stupid people , this is the world we live in , get used to it !

[Hylia]

Originally Posted by DarkUmagon

While she obviously did something wrong, I think she shouldn't get any jail time because her aim was not to make hte girl kill herself.

I totally disagree.

I remind you the woman is 49 years old.
She is psychologicly harrassing a little 13 years old unstable teenager fragile girl that had a mental health condition that SHE KNEWS about.

I've been victim of psychological harrassement at work. I'm a strong mentally healty woman, sure of herself, with the tools and ressources to protect myself. Yet, i was on the edge of a burn out and I had to leave my job.

I can't imagine the living hell this young girl had to pass trough... to the point where her pain was so much that she didnt see any others way than ending her life.

This woman deserve jail, shame and a oppressing feeling of guilt for the rest of shamefull life. To have did this, she is the lower level of scum that can ever exist.

Thats my opinion, thats it, thats all.

[scar47]

poor child... ive died b4 and its alot worse than anything you can imagine... especially self inflicted