Family Scorned For MySpace Hoax

Angry Neighbors Blame Mom, Son For Suicide Of 13-Year-Old Girl

(AP)  Waterford Crystal Drive is one of those suburban streets that seem so new as to have no history at all. But the suicide of a teenage girl - and allegations she had been tormented by a neighbor over the Internet - have brought a reaction that is old, almost tribal, in its nature.

Residents of the middle-class subdivision have turned against the neighbor, Lori Drew, and her family, demanding the Drews move out. In interviews, they have warned darkly that someone might be tempted to "take matters into their own hands."

"It's like they used to do in the 1700s and 1800s. If you wronged a community, you were basically shunned. That's basically what happened to her," said Trever Buckles, a 40-year-old who lives next door to the Drews.

Drew became an outcast after she participated in a hoax in which a fictional teenager by the name of "Josh Evans" exchanged online messages with 13-year-old Megan Meier. Megan received cruel messages from Josh that apparently drove her to hang herself in her closet in 2006.

Through her lawyer, Drew, a mother of two in her 40s, has denied saying hurtful things to the girl over the Internet, and prosecutors have said they found no grounds for charges against the woman. Nevertheless, the community reaction has been vengeful and the pressure on the Drews intense.

More than 100 residents gathered in front of their home on a recent evening, holding candles and reciting stories about Megan.

Last December, after neighbors learned of the Internet hoax, someone threw a brick through a window in the Drew home. A few weeks ago, someone made a prank call to police reporting that there had been a shooting inside the Drews' house, prompting squad cars to arrive with sirens flashing.

Someone recently obtained the password to change the Drews' outgoing cell phone recording, and replaced it with a disturbing message. Police would not detail the content.

Clients have fled from Drew's home-based advertising business, so she had to close it. Neighbors have not seen Drew outside her home in weeks.

Death threats and ugly insults have been hurled at Drew over the Internet, where she has been portrayed as a monster who should go to prison, lose custody of her children, or worse. Her name and address have been posted online, and a Web site with satellite images of the home said the Drews should "rot in hell."

Some of the threats "really freak me out," Buckles said while standing on his front porch after dark Tuesday night. As he spoke, a car slowed and stopped in front of Drew's home. It sat there idling for a few long minutes, then sped away. Buckles said it is a common occurrence.

"I just really hope that no one comes out here and does something insane," Buckles said. "If they do, I hope they get the right house."

Sheriff's Lt. David Tiefenbrunn said patrols have been stepped up around Drew's house. "There could be individuals out there with a vigilante-type attitude that might want to take revenge," he said.

The Drews - Lori, husband Curt and two children - live in a one-story ranch. An older man at the house who described himself only as a relative said Lori Drew would not comment. He would not say if the family planned to move.

Ron and Tina Meier's home is four houses away from the Drews. The sidewalk is curved, so the neighbors can't see each other from their front doors. The breach between the once-friendly families seems beyond repair.

"I think that what they have done is so despicable, that I think it absolutely disgusts people," Tina Meier said. "I can't take one ounce of energy worrying about who does not like Lori Drew or who hates Lori Drew. I could not care less."

Just a year ago, Waterford Crystal Drive was the kind of quiet suburban street where joggers waved hello while kids played in their front yards. Lately the road has been choked with TV news trucks, and neighbors hustle inside to avoid questions.

The row of brick-facade homes, with basketball nets and American flags out front, was carved out of the woods and pastures in the mid-1990s. Between rooftops, residents can see the neon signs of the strip mall restaurants near a highway that carries commuters some 35 miles to jobs in downtown St. Louis.

The subdivision and those surrounding it have street names evoking the good life, from Quaint Cottage Drive to Country Squire Circle.

The Drews used to fit in just fine, said John McIntyre, who described Lori Drew as an intensely social woman who never hesitated to stop and talk. She and Curt came over to McIntyre's home to look at his glassed-in porch because they were thinking of adding their own, he said.

McIntyre fondly remembered another guest - Megan. She came across the street to baby-sit McIntyre's 4-year-old daughter Genna and arrived with a clipboard and notes, determined to do the job right. He said the activity was good for Megan, who suffered from depression for years.

"She was a good kid," McIntyre said.

Megan became friends with the Drews' young daughter and the girls remained close for years, according to a report provided by prosecutors. But the girls had a falling-out in 2006.

A teenage employee of Drew's named Ashley said she created the "Josh" account on MySpace after a brainstorming session with Drew and her daughter, according to a prosecutor's report. Drew said the girls approached her with the idea, and she told them only to send polite messages to Megan.

Ashley sent Megan many of the messages from "Josh," and Lori Drew was aware of them, prosecutors said.

On Oct. 16, 2006, there was a heated online exchange between Megan and Ashley, who was posing as Josh. A few other MySpace users joined in, calling Megan names. It ended when "Josh" said the world would be better off without Megan.

Tina Meier said her daughter went to her room, crying and upset. About 20 minutes later, Megan was found hanging from a belt tied around her neck.

Drew's attorney Jim Briscoe said on NBC on Tuesday that Drew "absolutely, 100 percent" had nothing to do with the negative comments posted online about Megan and wasn't aware of them until after the girl took her life.

[kristin1228]

Karma...thats all i have to say!

[pepperp1]

I understand the shunning part, makes sense I would not want anything to do with someone who tormented a child with a disregard for the consequences, absolutely unforgivable as the result was a dead child, and I absolutely would not do business with her, but making them move or criminal activity is wrong and criminal.

One thing lost and a good lesson for us all is to keep our children out of places that are predatory, we would not let them walk alone down a street of *** offenders would we, no of course not.

[ladyephesus1]

She didnt know? well then why allow her daughter and friend to create a hoax account. What purpose was that for? What a liar!!!!!!!!!!!11

[smiley676]

Seriously, everyone needs to grow up. She didn''t commit a crime even if she did create the account and was saying mean things on the internet.

The girl who died obviously had other problems that her family should have been dealing with. I know that her parents feel better pushing the blame completely on someone else. But a lot of this is their fault.

Besides, this woman says she didn''t know what her daughter was doing and people are calling her a liar? Everyday, parents admit they don''t know what their kids were doing on the internet.

I just love how everyone is so quick to place blame on other people.

[kristin1228]

Smiley, some parents CHOOSE not to know what their kids are doing on the internet. Why are you defending this woman anyways?? This is something high school kids do, parents dont initiate this kind of childish, tormenting behavior. And who should be to blame for this? If she hadn''t started this whole hoax in the first place, this little girl would probably still be alive.

[barbaraf4]

I think we can''t have it both ways. Either we depend on our courts (who frequently disappoint us) and see "law hasn''t caught up with technology", or we resort to old time street justice. The problem with street justice iis that eventually, someone goes to jail - just not the one who was guilty of the original crime.

[wheezel3]

GET THEM and never rest until their lives are in tatters. Subject them to endless hoaxes. Someone mail them a noose and let them use it on themselves.

[bigsk8fan]

internet bullying is real and does happen. my own kid has shown me instances of kids picking on other kids via the internet. what is really amazing is just how abusive and derogatory these kids can be with each other. they say things that they would never say in public with others listening. it is too bad to think that a parent actually assisted in establishing an internet account so that this "teasing" could occur. all kids have the potential to be good people. but some parents let their kids down in the most important aspects of child rearing.

[sgtrds]

"Angry Neighbors Blame Mom, Son For Suicide Of 13-Year-Old Girl"

Of course they blame the mom. That would be because IT''S HER FAULT! Legally she did nothing wrong, but morally this was unforgivable and she deserves whatever suffering she''s going through.

[bamaredneck5]

I have one word - RESPONDIBILITY.

EITHER YOU POSSESS IT OR YOU DO NOT & THE DREWS DID NOT !!

[gunownerdan]

We need to discourage all kinds of bullying. It''s wrong and it''s dangerous. Bullying probably causes most school shootings. Of course, being bullied is no excuse to kill people or yourself, but it certainly doesn''t help things at all. Some people just can''t handle so much harassment!!

[slim1h2o]

The drews should be charged with negligent homicide.
They didn''t mean to cause her death, but they did.

[b-easy63]

Seriously, everyone needs to grow up. She didn''''t commit a crime even if she did create the account and was saying mean things on the internet...Besides, this woman says she didn''''t know what her daughter was doing and people are calling her a liar? Everyday, parents admit they don''''t know what their kids were doing on the internet.Posted by smiley676 at 10:18 AM : Dec 07, 2007

If you had been following this situation from the beginning, you would know that the mother ADMITTED to also posing as Josh and ridiculing the other kid as well as yucking it up with her daughter and friends --they took turns.

The Drews may not have done anything illegal in hounding a person online, but the cost of their actions may be that many find them reprehensible and dish out in the real world the same kind of stuff. Also not illegal. As long as no one threatens them or touches them but just shuns or ignores them and treats their child and them like pariah everywhere they go, there is not much that can be done. Treat others the way you want to be treated THAT is the golden rule and now the Drews are finding out just what that really means as they now are being treated the way they treated the Meier kid. Social justice...hope they are hounded until they leave and when they go somewhere else--the stigma follows them just like it does sexual molesters. Emotional molesters are no better. Hounded everywhere they roam. Comeuppance in spades.

[b-easy63]

Smiley, some parents CHOOSE not to know what their kids are doing on the internet. Why are you defending this woman anyways?? This is something high school kids do, parents dont initiate this kind of childish, tormenting behavior. And who should be to blame for this? If she hadn''''t started this whole hoax in the first place, this little girl would probably still be alive.

Posted by kristin1228 at 10:24 AM : Dec 07, 2007


smiley appears to have the mindset to do (or is doing) similar things. The idea that if something is not illegal, no matter how evil--it is allowed. So is shunning. So the Drews get it: Just the way they want it--and so will you Smiley--if your evil ****** gets out of hand or should we call you Drew?

[b-easy63]

The Drews - Lori, husband Curt and two children - live in a one-story ranch. An older man at the house who described himself only as a relative said Lori Drew would not comment. He would not say if the family planned to move.

When and IF they move, they will be hounded in the next place and the next. They are like that couple who stole IDs of their neighbors--pariah, social vermin, parasites--no one wants to know them, befriend them or live near them--they are evil and should be shunned by all decent people. Lori, et al can now get a taste of Megan''s world--in the real one.

[displeased]

Heck, I see internet bullying on these posts with certain subjects (usually religious and political). The name calling sometimes makes me wonder if we''re debating with children.

As far as this family, if they did drive this teenager to suicide, then they deserve every bit of anguish that they are receiving.

[pilatus12]

I hope Drew''s duaghter kills herself and she finds her. What goes around should come around. This woman is nothing but trash. She admitted doing this at first, then found out it wasn''t so cool. Liar on top of cruel, immature piece of garbage. Dying would be too good for her. Let her suffer as her kids die. And yes, I have ZERO compassion for this woman or anyone like her. Trying to be a "cool teenager." How cool is it Drew? Huh? Tell us - just how cool are you now.

[smiley676]

b-easy63 always the first to judge.

I''m not defending an adult who is being mean to a child.

But you people must accept no crime was committed.

And CHOOSE or not MOST parents have no idea what their kids are doing.

[smiley676]

THAT is the golden rule


Posted by b-easy63

You certainly are one to talk about the golden rule. Every one of your posts is negative, harassing and judgmental.

[reginaregina]

I wish people would find out the facts of a case before commenting.

In no way is it illegal or immoral to tell someone the world would be better off without them. That happens all the time around the world. Is it nice? Of course not. But it''s nothing to kill oneself over. It does NOT cause normal people to commit suicide. Megan had an illness...an emotional/psychological illness that was not being appropriately addressed by her parents, the 2 people in the world entrusted and expected to care for her. THEY let her down. If you''ve watched interviews with them, you can easily discern that they aren''t/weren''t good parents at all. They are trying to shift the blame for their shortcomings onto someone else. Instead of pointing fingers at others, they should be looking at themselves.

[reginaregina]

It wasn''t funny (unless you have a twisted mind), but no crime was committed. (Unless you count parental negligence.)

[displeased]

Lori Drew (and other parents) should focus on being role models for their teenagers and not do things like pose as teenagers on the internet to instill misery on their neighbors. I''d hate to see what Megan was going to grow up to be like after witnessing from her parents that this type of behavior is acceptable.

[kristin1228]

Unfortunately, there really wasn''t a crime committed. As horrible as this story is, she cant be prosecuted or punished for this. That''s why I''m loving the fact that people are taking things into their own hands. She deserves EVERYTHING that is happening to her now. Dont dish it out if you cant take it, plain and simple!

[displeased]

And yes, you folks are right that there was no crime committed but the mother''s actions were still immoral. This type of behavior would be expected from the teenager, but not the mother. It''s not something I would expect any normal adult to waste their time doing.

[slim1h2o]

What crime was committed?

Posted by jh6379 at 11:53 AM : Dec 07, 2007

How about, Child endangerment? Or how about negligent homicide?

And because she wasn''t able to pursue Life, liberty, and happiness, maybe a constitutional rights infringement was violated. I think you should be able to charge these people with some crime.

After all, a child is dead.

[sassalin]

This was wrong on every level. I don''t care if she had an existing problem. These people knew this (as did some of the other neighbors) and took advantage if it. Drew was an adult, trusted to act as an adult. People are saying the Meiers are bad parent but have you actually read the article. Lori Drew was the bad parent and horrible human. Maybe the law does not see this as a crime but I do and hopefully this will bring to light the problem of childern harassing others online. Lori Drew and her horrible child know what happen and have to live with it. I hope justice will be served to the Drews and their family.

jh6379,
Funny...You see this as funny. Maybe you need to seek help. Sounds like you have a problem.

[smiley676]

After all, a child is dead.


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Posted by slim1h2o

Yeah, she killed HERSELF.

[talkingham]

I know many parents who don''t let their children participate in MySpace and for good reason. It''s a freak show of sorts it''s ashame that Megan''s mom simply wasn''t paying attention was she. Now she wants to blame everyone else. If parents don''t look at their child''s MySpace pages then they are the ones who are being negligent and endangering their child.



This is totally absurd considering that Megan never even met the fictional Josh, why would she commit suicide over someone she had never met unless she was already deeply emotionally disturbed.

Think about it people. She had never met Josh but killed herself over his comments???? She was a time bomb waiting to explode and for soem reason chose this event, but her parents were not paying attention or this never would have happened.
Right let''s have a witch hunt and blame everyone else except the people closest to her - her parents.

[smiley676]

it is people like you that make these girls do the things they do. I hope that you burn in h e l l for your inhumane ways of thinking somethig is wrong with you


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Posted by trbl24u

NO ONE MAKES ANYBODY DO ANYTHING. That is the problem with society today. Always blaming personal actions on someone else.

[smiley676]

talkingham Exactly

[smiley676]

ozilot

This isn''t karma. This is the typical American judging others and taking matters into his own hands.

What exactly is wrong with the Bush twins?

Are you perfect then?

[smiley676]

How exactly were they bad parents?

Again, I suppose you are perfect and your children never do anything wrong, right?

[kristin1228]

I think I might have jumped to conclusions about this woman. I found a blog she wrote, explaining her side of the story since the media was only reporting the Meier''s story....think i might have to take back some of the things i said.

http://meganhaditcoming.blogspot.com/

[slim1h2o]

Yeah, she killed HERSELF.

Posted by smiley676 at 12:20 PM : Dec 07, 2007

Yes,,,a young, immature person was affected by the actions of somone else, and still a child is dead. Thats the end result!

[nirak2-2009]

This Family should be tarred and feathered and run out of town.

[smiley676]

Of course they are going to sue. Everyone sues. Why not, can''t win the lottery, find someone to sue.

Ridiculous. They should have been watching their own child.

Legally, they may have a civil claim. But not a strong one. To be liable for wrongful death, there has to be a preponderance of the evidence that you were responsible for the death. And again, she killed herself. Although, in civil cases intervening acts don''t necessarily relieve liability. So, maybe. Possibly intentional infliction of emotional distress. But there''s that word intentional and since the kid killed herself, she can''t sue. Was there an intentional infliction on the parents probably not.

Of course, juries love to give away money. So, they''ll probably get lucky for not taking care of their child.

[smiley676]

Yes,,,a young, immature person was affected by the actions of somone else, and still a child is dead. Thats the end result!


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Posted by slim1h2o

Right, her parents should have been watching her. And the actions were her own. She was old enough to know exactly what she was doing.

[yoopermom]

I agree that no one can make someone kill themselves, but what Lori Drew did was just plain evil. She is 40 years old and should know better than to harass a 13 year old. And a 13 year old that she knew had emotional issues no less. Is she responsible for this girls death, I don%u2019t think so, but she was not a positive influence in her life.

[klingon69]

The girl who died obviously had other problems that her family should have been dealing with. I know that her parents feel better pushing the blame completely on someone else. But a lot of this is their fault.
Posted by smiley676 at 10:18 AM : Dec 07, 2007
Back in the early 1980s alot of college/high school students played D&D. A FEW of them committed suicide because of something that occurred in the game. Everybody was quick to blame the game and TSR. However like in this case, those who did commit suicide had to have had another problem(s) that were just compounded by the incidents in the game.
Now, what happened was tragic, but shows just how fragile some peoples minds can be. Megan''s mother knew she has depression issues and should have known that adolescence with all its stresses would have compounded it. I wonder why she did not do a better job of monitoring her daughter while online. Did she know who she was talking with? We are usually very careful about who our kids hang around with, who they see, where they are going, but not so sharp about their online activities.

[klingon69]

GET THEM and never rest until their lives are in tatters. Subject them to endless hoaxes. Someone mail them a noose and let them use it on themselves.
Posted by wheezel3 at 10:29 AM : Dec 07, 2007
Then that would make the perps no better than those who did this. How is this affecting you? Are you related or in some other way personally touched by this tragedy?

[yoopermom]

All of my kids have a Myspace account. So do I, so I can monitor what they are doing on line and who they are talking too. I also have their passwords so I can monitor who is sending them messages. They think I am too controlling. I say I am doing my job as a parent. You never know who the heck they are talking to. I also tell them not to add anyone to their friends list unless they know them in real life. Also, the only computer with internet access is in our living room.

[mikefrmd]

"Of course, juries love to give away money. So, they''''ll probably get lucky for not taking care of their child"

What a bunch of bunk....Drew knew this girl had emotional issues and was on medication but still instigated this harassment and knew what was going on. I don''t want to her the *** she didn''t...I seen the police report where she said she did.

I love the blame the victim mentality here. One can try and perfume the pig all they want but its still a pig...she was wrong she knew shew was wrong, her lawyer knows she was wrong, the neighborhood knows she was wrong, and the police and prosecutor knows she was wrong...they just didn''t have a law on the books to use against her.

[klingon69]

I hope Drew''''s duaghter kills herself and she finds her. What goes around should come around. This woman is nothing but trash. She admitted doing this at first, then found out it wasn''''t so cool. Liar on top of cruel, immature piece of garbage. Dying would be too good for her. Let her suffer as her kids die. And yes, I have ZERO compassion for this woman or anyone like her. Trying to be a "cool teenager." How cool is it Drew? Huh? Tell us - just how cool are you now.
Posted by pilatus12 at 11:35 AM : Dec 07, 2007

It is a pity, that so many hold nothing but rancor in their hearts. Maybe it is true that evil begats evil, at least the messages I am seeing on here seem to prove it out.

[yoopermom]

http://meganhaditcoming.blogspot.com/
--------------------------
Posted by kristin1228

Just the name of her blog is disturbing. I have not read it yet, but for a 40 year old adult to think a 13 year old child that killed herself "had it coming" is not right.

[jetranger7]

I always liked that movie Goodfellas and Casino, wonder if they ever watched that movie ??? maybe they should start !! Ya, just never know where a real Saprano might just live !!!

[kristin1228]

yoopermom...i dont think the name of her blog "she had it coming to her" meant her death, i think was she was implying is that she started harassing her daughter along with other kids and what she had coming was for others to start harassing her like she did to so many. I would suggest reading it. This was just her way of getting her story out.

[slim1h2o]

Just the name of her blog is disturbing. I have not read it yet, but for a 40 year old adult to think a 13 year old child that killed herself "had it coming" is not right.

Posted by yoopermom at 12:46 PM : Dec 07, 2007

I agree, any adult, who thinks a kid had it coming, is herself one sicko.

[mikefrmd]

"yoopermom...i dont think the name of her blog "she had it coming to her" meant her death, i think was she was implying is that she started harassing her daughter along with other kids and what she had coming was for others to start harassing her like she did to so many. I would suggest reading it. This was just her way of getting her story out"

I''m pretty sure that Drew didn''t create this blog....nobody is that stupid.

Not sure of the message is as you read it...it came out just after Megan''s story came out in the press. and the person behind either mockingly or other was referring to Megan''s suicide.

[yoopermom]

She may not have meant her death, but I think it was still in very poor taste for her to use that as the name of her blog.

[slim1h2o]

It is a pity, that so many hold nothing but rancor in their hearts. Maybe it is true that evil begats evil, at least the messages I am seeing on here seem to prove it out.

Posted by Klingon69 at 12:43 PM : Dec 07, 2007

That''s what I was thinking.

And,, I still think Child Endangerment laws should hold some validity in this case.