Report: Feds Probe Girl's Internet Suicide
L.A. Times: Grand Jury Subpoenas MySpace.com After Deadly Web Hoax In Missouri
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Tina Meier, 37, holds two pictures of her daughter, Megan. The 16-year-old boy with whom Megan had been communicating turned out to be a fabrication created by a mother down the street. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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The subdivision of Megan Meier, a 13-year-old girl who hanged herself last year minutes after receiving mean messages on MySpace, is seen Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007, in Dardenne Prairie, Mo (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Pictures of Megan Meier, 13, who committed suicide last October after receiving cruel messages on MySpace. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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Federal prosecutors are considering charging a mother in the girl's neighborhood with defrauding MySpace by creating a false account that she, her daughter and a teenage employee used to fool 13-year-old Megan Meier into believing she was communicating with a 16-year-old boy, the Los Angeles Times said Tuesday on its Web site, citing unidentified sources.
It said its sources insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
Megan, of suburban St. Louis, hanged herself in October 2006 after receiving cruel messages from the fictional boy she had befriended online, including one saying the world would be better off without her.
The neighborhood woman, Lori Drew, has denied creating the account but acknowledged being aware of it. She also has denied sending any messages to Megan or being aware of the unkind messages.
Prosecutors in Missouri declined to charge anyone because no laws appeared to apply to the case.
A Missouri state panel formed by Gov. Matt Blunt after the suicide met for the final time Tuesday and said it would recommend making certain types of harassment a felony, such as if anyone 21 or older harasses people 17 and younger.
Several grand jury subpoenas issued last week included one to MySpace and others to witnesses, the Times reported.
Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, told the AP he could not comment on grand jury matters, which are secret.
Lori Drew's attorney Jim Briscoe told the AP that the Drews had not been subpoenaed, and that he did not know of anyone else who had received a subpoena.
"I do not know if it's true," he said of the report.
MySpace officials had no immediate comment.
Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Loyola University Law School, told The Associated Press that if the government convened a grand jury it would be trying to create a case in which MySpace would be the victim of a fraud - meaning the person who perpetrated the fraud could be prosecuted.
"The whole case is curious," she said, and could raise First Amendment issues of free speech.
The Times reported that its sources said federal prosecutors in Los Angeles believe they have jurisdiction because MySpace is based in Beverly Hills.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Posted by erasmus6 at 04:26 PM : Jan 09, 2008
conspiracy to commit fraud? stalking?
I completely agree with tomanyt though. No one can make someone kill themselves. This young lady had her own issues, but Lori Drew took advantage of Megan''s issues.
This has nothing to do with free speech. She didn''t go on there as her self and tell this girl what she thinks of her. She went on there and set her up, pretending to be someone she wasn''t. She made out like she was some guy who liked her and then turned around and destroyed her. That has nothing to do with free speech, that was an EVIL and VICIOUS DEED.
(Oh yes. The Federalists tried that about two centuries ago. The Supreme Court struck down the law. Perhaps, this time it will work. After all, we are trying to protect (have protected) some teenager from herself. The old law was simply claiming to protect all Americans from government oppression.)
- by Krazcarl January 9, 2008 5:42 PM EST
- Should be hung picking on a child desperate old woman trying to find friends/
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