Girl, 13, commits suicide after online bullying

By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
Last Updated: 2:30am GMT 21/11/2007

A 13-year-old girl hanged herself after she fell victim to a cyber-bullying campaign orchestrated by the mother of one of her classmates, who masqueraded online as a "good looking" teenage boy.

Megan Meier was in great spirits after she began corresponding with a 16-year-old named Josh Evans, who she met on MySpace, the popular social networking site. They exchanged messages for six weeks before he abruptly ended the friendship, telling her he had heard she was cruel.

The next day, Megan, who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, committed suicide. Her parents later discovered that Josh had never existed but was a fictitious persona created by a woman neighbour whose daughter had been friends with Megan until they fell out.
The woman, who attended the funeral before being exposed, reportedly told police she invented the MySpace profile because she wanted to gain Megan's confidence and find out what the girl was saying about her own child online.

She also told police that she, her daughter and another girl had all been involved in the ruse, helping to write messages from "Josh" to Megan.

Following a lengthy investigation, no charges have been brought in the case, enraging Megan's parents who are determined to see those responsible prosecuted and also seeking new laws to protect children from cyber-bullying.

Tina Meier, Megan's mother, said she did not believe anyone intended for her daughter to kill herself. "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 her local paper, the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis.

Police say they are keeping the case open and have promised to consider any new evidence.

Megan, who was described as a "bubbly, goofy" girl, died a year ago. Her parents were asked by the FBI to keep quiet while the case was investigated. They are speaking out now as tensions over the case continue to roil their community in Dardenne Prairie, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, and local officials attempt to pass an ordinance criminalising online harassment.

The day after her death, her father, Ron Meier said he found a message from Josh telling Megan she was a bad person and the world would be better without her. There was also a flurry of email postings labelling Megan "fat" and "a slut".

The woman who created the profile was exposed by the parents of another girl with access to the Josh account.

Megan's parents, who have since separated, are pushing for a new law "to get justice for Megan", Mrs Meier said. The proposed internet ordinance is expected to be debated by city officials this week.

"People are just totally shocked. They can't believe that an adult would have done this," said Pam Fogarty, the town's mayor, who has ordered extra police to patrol the area because of what she fears is a growing "mob mentality".