Myspace Suicide Indictment

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Myspace Suicide Indictment

By Caitlin Haedicke

Story Created: May 15, 2008 at 9:50 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 15, 2008 at 10:17 PM CDT

A Missouri mother has been indicted in the case of a teen who killed herself after being bullied on Myspace. The federal indictment accuses 49-year-old Lori Drew of posing as a 16-year old boy and faking a relationship with the girl.

The indictment accuses Lori Drew and others of registering on Myspace as "Josh Evans" and using the account to start an online romance with 13-year-old Megan Meier. Police say Drew set up the account to find out what Meier was saying about her daughter.

Meier committed suicide in 2006 after Drew allegedly told her "the world would be a better place without her".

Prosecutors say Drew violated Myspace terms of use by using false information so they could "harass, abuse or harm" Meier.

"This case is yet another lesson teaching us that malicious acts may have unforeseen, but very serious consequences," stated Sal Hernandez with the FBI.

Drew faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy and using computers to obtain information to inflict emotional distress.

Monday, May 19 at 3:05 PM MySpace Good/Bad wrote ...

MySpace don't ruin your LIFE...as you myspacers know...you can put what you want, share what you want, blog what you want, say what you want...Mine is actualy positive and encouraging...because I am positive and encouraging. it is only a reflection of a person....not that person's whole entire LIFE I think you need to focus on the crime not the website...people lie on myspace all the time...to be able to be a member... What now ...should we have to prove who we are ...just to sign up???

Monday, May 19 at 3:00 PM Never Grow Up wrote ...

Some Mom's Never Grow Up!! Acting Just As Childish OR Even More Childish Than Thier Off Spring!!

Monday, May 19 at 12:55 PM Anonymous wrote ...

timbrooks

Monday, May 19 at 10:11 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This woman certainly deserves what she gets- What kind of "mother" would want to inflict emotional stress on a child. That child has a mother too. What if this happened to her child? How would she feel? I have NO sympathy for her, she should have used better judgement as an "adult"!!!!

Monday, May 19 at 8:14 AM nun yo bidnezz wrote ...

i kno that myspace is a interesting site....even i have 1 nd i kno dat itzz bad nd that there izz no website safe enough 4 any child....im very sorry dat grl went thro thiz...r.i.p even tho i dnt kno u u will alwayzz b in mii heart nd memory of bad website....god plzz 4give...r.i.p agen

Monday, May 19 at 8:13 AM misc... wrote ...

I live here in Missouri. There was not enough evidence to charge her with anything. No one knows for sure if she did anything or had anything to do with this at all. I am sorry the Girl killed herself. But my question is Where were HER parents? Why was she left unattended to go on myspace and attempt to get with a 16yr old? She was 13. Everyone has had someone be mean to them. Most of us are not unstable enough to kill ourselves. So again where were HER PARENTS.

Monday, May 19 at 1:28 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Another sad thing is that so many of you people spell tougher "taugher". Did any of you people graduate high school?

Monday, May 19 at 12:18 AM angry mother wrote ...

I wish people would stop talking about this poor child like it's all her fault and that she had mental problems, shame on you. She was only 13 years old and YES it is OUR responsibility to make sure All children are taken care of and let them know that they are loved. They may not be our own child but be serious, not every child has somebody to guide them along, please have a heart!! We are all Gods children! I too believe that this old lady was totally at fault.

Sunday, May 18 at 10:06 PM are you serious... wrote ...

I can not beleive you would say Myspace would ruin your life. Are you kidding me? Yes, this mother should not have done that and should have a consequence. but not murder - This girl obviously had some mental problems. Why do we feel the need to blame others for everything that goes wrong with our lives. Lets start taking a close look at our own lives and start taking responsibility for what happens in our own life.

Sunday, May 18 at 7:29 PM angry wrote ...

i hope she gets charged with every possible crime out there. wat sorta screwed up person would do sucha thing...she deserves everything she is getting!!!

Sunday, May 18 at 10:13 AM Chris wrote ...

I agree this is a sad case and this woman should be in trouble for using lies to manipulate a child, but you can not say that this woman is responsible for her death and convict her of murder. If you do so you may very well someday find yourself on murder charges, saying something hurtful happens, but that does not mean you are a murder if that person kills them self.

Sunday, May 18 at 5:46 AM Bob wrote ...

"We should have a taugher law for the internet abusers, and make sure they get punished for their crime!!!" You bet. Hurting someone's feelings, even disagreeing with them should be a felony!

Sunday, May 18 at 1:39 AM Anonymous wrote..... wrote ...

it doesnt matter weather she had problems to began with that old woman pushed that girl off the cliff and look what happend i cant believe how cold and twisted people can be such a shame,poor girl rest in peace

Saturday, May 17 at 7:33 PM another mom wrote ...

This is such a childish act from a supposedly adult and a mother.

Saturday, May 17 at 12:50 PM another mother wrote ...

What kind of mother would do something like this to another mothers child? I'm just glad she didn't get away with it. She told this sweet angel that "the world would be a better place without her", well, the world is better off without people like lori drew. In my world All children are my first priority. to everyone out there, don't listen to hurtful words, their is always somebody out there who will show you they care. God bless America!!

Saturday, May 17 at 10:38 AM anonymous wrote ...

words are word people arent nice!! this girl had issues to begin with (u Think) I feel for the family and this is a very sad thing and the parent was very much in the wrong but just because someone hurts your feelings or tells you go jump off a cliff dont mean you do it!! Its a tough world

Saturday, May 17 at 9:34 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Very weird and sad for a grown woman to behave in this manner. However, did she do anything illegal?

Saturday, May 17 at 7:34 AM Anonymous from Houston, Tx wrote ...

"Drew faces up to 20 years in prison" only? This is a murder case to me!!! What is the difference between Playing an innocent child's emotion on internet, then make her felt worthless finally lead to her suicide, and bring her a bar, drug her then make her jump off a building or tub her in the heart? We should have a taugher law for the internet abusers, and make sure they get punished for their crime!!!

Saturday, May 17 at 7:20 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This is a heart breaker

Saturday, May 17 at 5:59 AM Its Myspace wrote ...

I Promise It Probably Wasnt Just That Comment That Made Her Commit Suicide.. Im Sure After Investigations They Will Find She Had More Problems Than This. At Least I Hope.. But God Bless.. And It Is A Very Sad Thing!

Saturday, May 17 at 3:08 AM Sara wrote ...

thats so sad.People dont get myspace it ruins ur LIFE!!

Friday, May 16 at 4:57 PM Clark wrote ...

I hope she will spend time in prison! This needs to be a lesson to all, life is too short to spread so much hatred. What kind of example did she set for her own teenager?

Friday, May 16 at 4:20 PM Anonymous wrote ...

That is so sad. What kind of mother would even do something like that??

Friday, May 16 at 1:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

never listen to the people get away from myspace

Friday, May 16 at 1:37 PM nikia wrote ...

what happen

Friday, May 16 at 9:14 AM Amanda Kay wrote ...

I think that what has happened will hopefully show people that no website is safe...I am terribly sorry for the girl that went through this...R.I.P.

Friday, May 16 at 8:55 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Good, this woman was wrong from the start and thought she was going to get away with it. She knew all along what she was doing.

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