Mother Of Webcam Suicide Man Shares Pain

19-Year-Old Miami Man Was Calling Out For Help, Mother Tells The Early Show

(CBS/ AP)  The mother and sister of a teenager who killed himself in front of a Webcam last month are questioning the morals of online viewers who witnessed the suicide and called for greater supervision of Internet communities.

"It was a big part of his life, it was his community. This is where he reached out," the teen's mother, Doreen Biggs, told CBS' The Early Show in an exclusive interview.

Only after police arrived to find 19-year-old Abraham Biggs dead in his father's bed did the Web feed stop Wednesday - 12 hours after the 19-year-old Broward College student first declared on a Web site that he hated himself and planned to die.

"I'm hurt, I'm angry that so many people could actually watch this and not think that it's there responsibility - not do anything about it - he was calling out for help," Doreen Biggs said.

"We do have a moral and social responsibility to each other," she said.

Biggs announced his plans to kill himself over a Web site for bodybuilders, authorities said. He posted a link from there to Justin.tv, a site that allows users to broadcast live videos from their Webcams.

A computer user who claimed to have watched said that after swallowing some pills, Biggs went to sleep and appeared to be breathing for a few hours while others cracked jokes.

Abraham's sister Rosalind Biggs Fanning agreed with her mother and said she was upset that the Web site's moderators didn't respond to her brother's pleas for help.

"All we can do is sit there and watch?" Rosalind said.

She added that there needs to be a standardized method for getting people who are online and in distress help.

After hours of inaction, eventually someone notified the moderator of the bodybuilding site, who traced Biggs' location and called police, Crane said. The drama unfolded live on the Web site which allows viewers to post comments alongside the video images.

As police entered the room, the audience's reaction was filled with Internet shorthand: "OMFG," one wrote, meaning "Oh, my God." Others, either not knowing what they were seeing, or not caring, wrote "lol," which means "laughing out loud," and "hahahah."

It is unclear how many people watched it happen. The Web site would not say how many people were watching the broadcast. The site as a whole had 672,000 unique visitors in October, according to Nielsen.

Biggs was not the first person to commit suicide with a Webcam rolling. But the drawn-out drama - and the reaction of those watching - was seen as an extreme example of young people's penchant for sharing intimate details about themselves over the Internet.

[farremoved]

....."I''m hurt, I''m angry that so many people could actually watch this and not think that it''s there responsibility - not do anything about it - he was calling out for help," Doreen Biggs said........

This is a very sad story yes, but I cannot help but think about why the parents had no clue about their son''s troubles!? It''s not difficult to be an involved parent!

[rontheroquer]

This is no doubt a tragic situation, but I can''t help but wonder what Mom and Sister are doing to correct the problems they obviously have at home. They are quick to point out that "society" failed in the moral obligation we all have to each other. They were also quick to condemn the internet for not having a better means of alerting the necessary people to problems like this. What about the problems at home that made this kid more comfortable talking about it on a blog than with his own family? Or further, how many times did he ask his family for help either directly or with obvious signs that he wanted help, only to be ignored and subsequently driven to cry for help on the internet.

I feel for the kid, but Mom and Sis get little sympathy from me. I sure get tired of people blaming everyone and everything but themselves for the problems they encounter.

[rontheroquer]

This is no doubt a tragic situation, but I can''t help but wonder what Mom and Sister are doing to correct the problems they obviously have at home. They are quick to point out that "society" failed in the moral obligation we all have to each other. They were also quick to condemn the internet for not having a better means of alerting the necessary people to problems like this. What about the problems at home that made this kid more comfortable talking about it on a blog than with his own family? Or further, how many times did he ask his family for help either directly or with obvious signs that he wanted help, only to be ignored and subsequently driven to cry for help on the internet.

I feel for the kid, but Mom and Sis get little sympathy from me. I sure get tired of people blaming everyone and everything but themselves for the problems they encounter.

[axomomma]

This is no different that the Wal-Mart shoppers who trampled to death the employee that opened the doors for them.

[clovernyc]

12 hours passed and the mother and sister who now claim to care never bothered to check on him?

He was already taking prescription meds for depression.

Someone made sure he had a lethal combination in his possession that would cause him to sleep forever.

His mother''s first comment to the news was "... this was a beautiful but troubled soul..."

Does this sound like a distraught mother talking about her son''s apparent suicide?

Before you blame ''society'' look in the mirror woman, and see someone who did not care at all about her son.

And who frankly sounds relieved that he is gone.

[clovernyc]

Wrath - wake up and take your head off the cap lock. Yelling does not make your point any less stupid.

[shanev137]

The mom, the sister, the kid who killed himself, and all the people who watched, are all as equally sick as each other.

[clovernyc]

Wrath - You have proven that you are a ninny. I laugh in your general direction.

[clovernyc]

This poor lad posted his tragedy at a bodybuilders website.

Narcissism central. He certainly was not going to get any sympathy there.

[shanev137]

You better be careful Wrath. If she actually does it because you told her to, then the same lawyers who sued Lori Drew will sue you too.

[clovernyc]

Wrath = Ninny

[mrmeatspin]

morality was never a priority when the liberals took over the media..and morality was never the priority when they condition society..


AND..AND

morality was never the issue when the liberals question the role of religion..

they just wnat the power

[clovernyc]

Wrath, your particular brand of aggressive stupidity is the reason why so many watched a poor lad commit suicide.

[resin_smoker]

People watched simply because they could... Same way people "rubber-neck" when they drive past an auto accident.

While i sympathize for the mothers loss, there are two facts that are apparent here:

1)The sites providing the video links should be held accountable.

2)Suicide is preventable... Take some responsibility for your child!

-Resin

[clovernyc]

Suicide as a spectator sport.

Only in America.

[sharkzone1]

People probably watched thinking it was a Joke or Scam.

[differnet]

To all those who excuse themselves or others because they "thought it was a hoax or a scam," you are participating in a rationalization. You took a gamble on another person''s life for some vague selfish reason. You are no different then the person who hears a scream and chooses not to get involved. In hindsight, you are trying to find a way to live with your own failure. Accept that you screwed up and it cost a man his life and his family incrediable pain. However, at the same time, dedicate yourself to not missing another chance to do what is right in this world. We all make mistakes, the challenge is to learn from them. It would have been better to call the authorities and learn that it was a hoax. Now, you have his death on your hand. Those who stand by and do nothing are as culpable as those who commit the act.

[beader59]

It is disgusting that anyone would sit and watch this, but I think the family needs to shoulder the responsibility of not heeding the cries for help. Take the blame first.

[onlythereal-]

Just another sign of the times that we live in. If it isnt me, it doesnt matter is the consensus of young people these days. I dont know why anyone should be surprised when we have weaned our kids on Friday the 13th. Taught in school that they came from apes and when you die thats it, how can you blame them for how they act. God has been booted out of school and church is to square, church isnt cool enough. Learning things like compassion and love for one another is replaced by atheist theology. After what society has allowed them to see and be taught, it really isnt surprising. Their parents vote allows millions of unborn slaghtered in the name of "womens rights" so why all the surprise and shock.II Timothy 3:1... But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...I think that about raps it up.

[rsmik]

What kind of rabble-rousing report is this? The boy died in his home. Was it the same home his mother and sister occupied? Where were they if he was so disturbed and needed so much help? It''s so easy to blame strangers, isn''t it? That always helps with the lawsuit.

[clathrate]

All of the people who watched should be hanged.

I am just so disgusted with our society anymore. Kids are taught nothing by their equally selfish, narcissistic parents. I hate to see what this brood of vipers is going to do with their children...hell, they''ll probably just dump them off at the nearest shelter and go back to IMing all their g*ddamned Facebook buddies.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Biggs announced his plans to kill himself over a Web site for bodybuilders, authorities said."

Judging by the skinny male attracted to bodybuilders, it is very possible that Biggs was a latent homos*exual, and was having severe problems coming to terms with it, otherwise what kind of attention from bodybuilders would he be "crying out" for?

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by onlythereal-

Belief in fairy tales, with all of the unnatural prohibitions advocated by the twisters thereof, are the most likely cause of the problem.

Yes, we do come from apes, and when we die, that is it. Not even the star of your fairy tales was able to remain alive and on earth after death. That is a 1000 batting average for death.

My taxes are not to be used to promote your fables in school, you have your own churches for that, those who wish can go there. Maybe they would be "cool" if they were not so hypocritical.

[mellie1957]

I''m very sorry for this family & don''t blame them for Abraham''s death. It''s not easy parenting a troubled teen. I do have contempt for those that watched & egged him on. Someone watching that web cam should have reported this to the authorities sooner.

[thecatsmeow5]

My thoughts and prayers go to the family of this young man. People need to be more sensitive.

[concorde5]

A lot of video content on the web is fake so I can see how the viewers didn''t believe this young man''s suicide was real.

I watched part of the video and I could see the comments people were posting. There was a lot of debate as to whether or not this was real. People thought it was a hoax until this young man had laid motionless for a long time.

Only when the police arrived did viewers know that it was in fact real. So let''s not be so quick to judge.

He was a disturbed young man as many young people are. I seriously considered suicide myself at his age. Luckily my emotions and hormones straightened out and I don''t have those thoughts anymore.

Having said that my heart goes out to the family because I know first hand what it is like to lose a loved one at such a young age.

[vcofreason]

"I''m hurt, I''m angry that so many people could actually watch this and not think that it''s there responsibility -"
-------------
Does ANYONE know how to spell anymore? THERE responsibility? Ummmm, try THEIR. Unreal. I don''t know if it''s the mother''s fault or CBS but the typos I find online are startling.

I do not blame one person watching. Too many fake people on the internet. I wouldn''t have believed it was real either and for the family to blame others is pathetic.

[neenga]

"not think that it''s there responsibility "

Editors? Hello?

[neenga]

"Judging by the skinny male attracted to bodybuilders, it is very possible that Biggs was a latent homos*exual, and was having severe problems coming to terms with it, otherwise what kind of attention from bodybuilders would he be "crying out" for?"

I wonder if his mental state was a result of steroid use.