DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo. —
Megan Meier thought she had made a new friend in cyberspace when a cute teenage boy named Josh contacted her on MySpace and began exchanging messages with her.

Megan, a 13-year-old who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, corresponded with Josh for more than a month before he abruptly ended their friendship, telling her he had heard she was cruel.

The next day Megan committed suicide. Her family learned later that Josh never actually existed; he was created by members of a neighborhood family that included a former friend of Megan's.

Now Megan's parents hope the people who made the fraudulent profile on the social networking Web site will be prosecuted, and they are seeking legal changes to safeguard children on the Internet.

The girl's mother, Tina Meier, said she doesn't think anyone involved 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 the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis, which first reported on the case.

Tina Meier said law enforcement officials told her the case did not fit into any law. But sheriff's officials have not closed the case and pledged to consider new evidence if it emerges.

Megan Meier hanged herself in her bedroom on Oct. 16, 2006, and died the next day. She was described as a "bubbly, goofy" girl who loved hanging out with her friends, watching movies and fishing with her dad.

Megan had been on medication, but had been upbeat before her death, her mother said, after striking up a relationship on MySpace with Josh Evans about six weeks before her death.

Josh told her he was born in Florida and had recently moved to the nearby community of O'Fallon. He said he was homeschooled, and didn't yet have a phone number in the area to give her.

Megan's parents said she received a message from him on Oct. 15 of last year, essentially saying he didn't want to be her friend anymore, that he had heard she wasn't nice to her friends.

The next day, as Megan's mother headed out the door to take another daughter to the orthodontist, she knew Megan was upset about Internet messages. She asked Megan to log off. Users on MySpace must be at least 14, though Megan was not when she opened her account. A MySpace spokeswoman did not return calls seeking comment.

Someone using Josh's account was sending cruel messages. Then, Megan called her mother, saying electronic bulletins were being posted about her, saying things like, "Megan Meier is a slut. Megan Meier is fat."

Megan's mother, who monitored her daughter's online communications, returned home and said she was shocked at the vulgar language her own daughter was sending. She told her daughter how upset she was about it.

Megan ran upstairs, and her father, Ron, tried to tell her everything would be fine. About 20 minutes later, she was found in her bedroom. She died the next day.

Her father said he found a message the next day from Josh, which he said law enforcement authorities have not been able to retrieve. It told the girl she was a bad person and the world would be better without her, he has said.

Another parent, who learned of the MySpace account from her own daughter who had access to the Josh profile, told Megan's parents about the hoax in a counselor's office about six weeks after Megan died. That's when they learned Josh was imaginary, they said.

The woman who created the fake profile has not been charged with a crime. She allegedly told the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department she created Josh's profile because she wanted to gain Megan's confidence to know what Megan was saying about her own child online.

The mother from down the street told police that she, her daughter and another person all typed and monitored the communication between the fictitious boy and Megan.

A person who answered the door at the family's house told an Associated Press reporter on Friday afternoon that they had been advised not to comment.

Megan's parents had been storing a foosball table for the family that created the MySpace character. Six weeks after Megan's death, they learned the other family had created the profile and responded by destroying the foosball table, dumping it on the neighbors' driveway and encouraging them to move away.

Megan's parents are now separated and plan to divorce.

Aldermen in Dardenne Prairie, a community of about 7,000 residents about 35 miles from St. Louis, have proposed a new ordinance related to child endangerment and Internet harassment. It could come before city leaders on Wednesday.

"Is this enough?" Mayor Pam Fogarty said Friday. "No, not by any stretch of the imagination, but it's something, and you have to start somewhere."

I hope the mother of that other girl rots in hell. What the hell kind of parent is that? Disgusting

F***ing pathetic bastards!!!!!!!

Poor girl and her family. What a loss.

well, i hope those selfish idiots are really proud of themselves.

Their are some awful people in this world.

That poor girl. :(

Un. Freakin. Believable.

Of course I never met Megan but I want this on the internet.

Megan Meier was a good person and the world is NOT better without her.

Terrible, just terrible. It's sick and unbelievable that a parent would behave that way.

I hope these idiot parents who pushed another girl over the edge by messing with her mind have this rest on their consciences forever. May the consequences be swift and severe.

well, i hope those selfish idiots are really proud of themselves.
Yeah really...and adult woman should know better! I hope they can find SOEMTHING to charge her with......like a cattle prod!:mad:

Of course I never met Megan but I want this on the internet.

Megan Meier was a good person and the world is NOT better without her.
Beautifully said Adam :) :clap :clap

I agree. Look at all the **** she has caused. ohno: Let's bully a 13 year old because that's what all "mature" adults do.

****ing bitch. I hope you meet someone on the internet and he rapes and eats you. You don't deserve to live.

Of course I never met Megan but I want this on the internet.

Megan Meier was a good person and the world is NOT better without her.
Ive decided to take your idea and run with it....I dont usually have or want a Signature, but, for this week, i dedicate a siggy to Megan Meier VVVVV
(thx Adam)

MEGAN MEIER REST IN PEACE...peacesign: :heart:

Ive decided to take your idea and run with it....I dont usually have or want a Signature, but, for this week, i dedicate a siggy to Megan Meier VVVVV
(thx Adam)

That's great. :)

Yeah really...and adult woman should know better! I hope they can find SOEMTHING to charge her with......like a cattle prod!:mad:
Yes, that woman's actions definitely were out of line. By her taking part in this fictitious character she is equally liable for the content spewed by the other young girls. This venom led to a thirteen year-old committing suicide.
If the other girl's mother had a problem with Megan she should have confronted HER PARENTS. ~Hello, reason and sensibility!

Anyway, I found another article that provides a picture of Megan.
http://www.halflifesource.com/news/2007/11/14/article10088.htm

Yeah...she looked real fat. :rolleyes:

:crying: What a terrible loss...Megan represents all of us online, in a very real way.

Btw..If anyone else wants to use a dedication signature to Megan, that would be great, let's see how many people we can get :)

These stupid parents who posed as "Josh" had WAAAAYYYYY too much time on their hands to figure out if a girl like Megan was saying bad things about their Precious Little Angel. :rolleyes:

Obviously these parents never understood the pain of rejection that young teen girls feel when a boy says they don't like them or don't want to be friends. This "Josh"-mom and dad should win as Parents of the Year. ohno:

NOW guess what's going to happen to THEIR daughter at school.

Terrible, terrible, terrible!!! That poor girl and her parents...I am stunned. What kind of people could do this???

Terrible, terrible, terrible!!! That poor girl and her parents...I am stunned. What kind of people could do this???

We all know people who are capable of such hideous things. I'm related to several. Let's just pray we never marry one.

That's incredibly sad. For anyone, particularly an adult, to mess with the mind of a fragile young person is despicable. I would be ALL over my kids online communications these days. It's a crazy world out there, just loaded with sickos.

Hey, Janice! You're back!

This happened in my former neck of the woods, St. Charles County.

So sad. Poor Megan. Why would anybody be this evil?

Hey, Janice! You're back!
I am, Lee! Nice to see you. :)

I hope they find something to charge the horrible woman who did this. May the rotten evil she perpetrated come back to haunt her--threefold!

I'm gonna make a prediction - the woman who did this is either going to end up being murdered, or will commit suicide. Call it a hunch, but stuff like this tends to drift in that direction.

I'm gonna make a prediction - the woman who did this is either going to end up being murdered, or will commit suicide. Call it a hunch, but stuff like this tends to drift in that direction.
Thats true....Well, id rather see her get 6 months in jail

I'm gonna make a prediction - the woman who did this is either going to end up being murdered, or will commit suicide.
hopefully. if not, i hope her life gets ruined.

such a sad story :( R.I.P. MEGAN
The person who made josh and those parents are poor excuses for human beings:mad: :mad: :mad: THOSE PIECES OF S*IT

the internet can be a great tool, but it also has its faults as well. there are cranks, wierdos, sickos etc who go to great lengths to harass, threaten and intimidate others. the sick ****ers who did this should be punished and i don't mean slapping their butts. those parents should be sent to jail for illiciting and inciting hatred and harassment for the rest of their lives.:mad:

as for that girl, she is a nasty, disgusting piece of work who should be exposed for the evil person that she is. they could all do ourselves a favour and kill themselves because they deserve it.

Megan's parents had been storing a foosball table for the family that created the MySpace character. Six weeks after Megan's death, they learned the other family had created the profile and responded by destroying the foosball table, dumping it on the neighbors' driveway and encouraging them to move away.

Megan's parents are now separated and plan to divorce.



From this line, I also assume the mother who was communicating as "josh" was friends with the parents of Megan. That makes it even more disturbing.

I'm gonna make a prediction - the woman who did this is either going to end up being murdered, or will commit suicide. Call it a hunch, but stuff like this tends to drift in that direction.

I feel the way you do--one way or another she's gonna get hers.

What a horrible tragedy. I hope that mother realizes that not only did she cause a beautiful young girl to kill herself and destroy a family but now her own daughter will be known at school as 'the one who killed Megan' and they will taunt her until she breaks. Karma is a bi*ch.


RIP Megan you deserved better!

I heard about this the other day. It's horrible, and I hope the parents who did this are judged for it.

Sad.

it's also sad that this is splitting the parents apart instead of uniting them and making their bond even stronger, since usually if a couple can make it together after losing a child, they can make it through anything, and yet this couple couldn't take the heat and are going their separate ways

it's also sad that this is splitting the parents apart instead of uniting them and making their bond even stronger, since usually if a couple can make it together after losing a child, they can make it through anything, and yet this couple couldn't take the heat and are going their separate ways
That makes this story even more tragic. These two people dealing with a child who committed suicide were obviously in need of comfort and therapy and instead, they are now divorcing. How tragic overall.

IS THERE A WAY TO CONTACT THIS GIRL'S FAMILY TO LET THEM KNOW HOW WE FEEL?

I just read this story and omg! This is absolutely terrible! :( For a mother with her own 13 year old daughter to do that and then to have the nerve to show up at Megan's funeral? Wow. I know the parents didn't know then but that's balls! Words can hurt more than anyone knows, even if there typed on a screen. She suffered depression for many years and it just all got to her. R.I.P. Megan! The world should've treated you better and I wish I had gotten to know you! :(

Oh man...what an awful story. I searched the Suburban Journals' site and found several more articles and a place for feedback that the Meier family appears to be checking on (Tina Meier responded). The details of this story are even more gruesome than told in the articles in this thread...including the fact that the only person charged with any crime-- a misdemeanor-- is Ron Meier, for destroying the foosball table and damaging the other family's grass when he drove his truck over it to leave the table on their driveway; including the fact that the person pressing charges for this misdemeanor for Megan's dad is none other than the woman who impersonated the boy on myspace; and including the fact that this woman responsible for the fake myspace account says she doesn't feel as bad and "feels less guilty" because Megan had tried to commit suicide before (which is false). This story makes me so sad and soooo angry at the same time. What a twisted, screwed up justice system for this case. It appears that this mother and family is going to be able to walk away from the law on this scot-free. It appears public outcry has caused some re-checking into the possibility of charging a crime, but to no avail. :( Here's several articles with the latest sad details:
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=1&o=0&l=25&q=Megan+Meier&submit=Go%21
This is as frustrating and appalling as OJ Simpson. :(

Lori Drew and Curt Drew
269 Waterford Crystal Dr
O'Fallon, MO 63368-7130

Phone number (636) 272-2670

http://www.lawrenceconnor.com/lori_drew.html

Oh man...what an awful story. I searched the Suburban Journals' site and found several more articles and a place for feedback that the Meier family appears to be checking on (Tina Meier responded). The details of this story are even more gruesome than told in the articles in this thread...including the fact that the only person charged with any crime-- a misdemeanor-- is Ron Meier, for destroying the foosball table and damaging the other family's grass when he drove his truck over it to leave the table on their driveway; including the fact that the person pressing charges for this misdemeanor for Megan's dad is none other than the woman who impersonated the boy on myspace; and including the fact that this woman responsible for the fake myspace account says she doesn't feel as bad and "feels less guilty" because Megan had tried to commit suicide before (which is false). This story makes me so sad and soooo angry at the same time. What a twisted, screwed up justice system for this case. It appears that this mother and family is going to be able to walk away from the law on this scot-free. It appears public outcry has caused some re-checking into the possibility of charging a crime, but to no avail. :( Here's several articles with the latest sad details:
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=1&o=0&l=25&q=Megan+Meier&submit=Go%21
This is as frustrating and appalling as OJ Simpson. :(
Ohhhh, so the family who "lost a foosball table" is p*ssed!!!???? BASTARDS!!!! You can replace a damn game, you can't replace a HUMAN BEING YOU PATHETIC A**HOLES!!!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

Lori Drew and Curt Drew
269 Waterford Crystal Dr
O'Fallon, MO 63368-7130

Phone number (636) 272-2670

http://www.lawrenceconnor.com/lori_drew.html
Thanks for posting that Sarah. I think the whole world should know who those bastards are. :mad:

And they should feel worst because she was suicidal. Some people are right in the middle deciding whether to commit suicide or not and that mother pushed her right over the edge. I hope she rots. :ohno:

i was going to prank call them using a peter griffin soundboard, no answer though.

I am sure they have their answering machine "off."

I guess I just can't believe they have the hutzpah to press misdemeanor charges against Megan's father after playing a part in Megan's death. Who are these people? What is wrong with them?? Why would LORI DREW say she doesn't feel as bad or feels less guilty about Megan's death because the girl tried to commit suicide before (again, I point out, FALSE)? What a sad, pathetic human being! And she has a daughter. :(

I've created a myspace group dedicated to Megan. For anyone who has a myspace, you can join here. (http://groups.myspace.com/ripmeganmeier) I can't believe this is the first myspace group about her.

I guess I just can't believe they have the hutzpah to press misdemeanor charges against Megan's father after playing a part in Megan's death. :(Truer words were rarely spoken

I've created a myspace group dedicated to Megan. For anyone who has a myspace, you can join here. (http://groups.myspace.com/ripmeganmeier) I can't believe this is the first myspace group about her.
That is so damn sweet of you~!!!!!!:rock:

Kelly is always sweet :)

Kelly is always sweet :)
Yes, she is. What a great way to pay tribute to her.

Awww Mikey, you guys...I'm blushing overtime here lol

Hey Kelly, has anyone responded on the mySpace yet?

Hey Kelly, has anyone responded on the mySpace yet?
I have one member LOL.

My God. That is terrible. She was such a pretty girl, too. The people behind that are really awful, disgusting people.

I joined your Myspace group, Kelly.

My God. That is terrible. She was such a pretty girl, too. The people behind that are really awful, disgusting people.

I joined your Myspace group, Kelly.
Aww thanks!

that makes 2 then? :) (Hey, you gotta start somewhere :) )

This week's PEOPLE magazine has an article on this tragedy with some pics of Megan. What a beautiful girl. Her parents had her buried in a sleeveless dress she was going to wear on her 14th birthday. Megan was so excited abt wearing that dress. She never got to wear it the way she had hoped. So sad.

This week's PEOPLE magazine has an article on this tragedy with some pics of Megan. What a beautiful girl. Her parents had her buried in a sleeveless dress she was going to wear on her 14th birthday. Megan was so excited abt wearing that dress. She never got to wear it the way she had hoped. So sad.
That just makes my heart sink.....don't you wish life had a rewind button, at times like these? :(

I've joined the group. If anyone's curious, I'm the one named "Adam" with a picture of the Fraggle Rock gang. I still don't have any recent pics of me to post.

This was a great idea, Kelly.

That just makes my heart sink.....don't you wish life had a rewind button, at times like these? :(
Most certainly. I also wish I was near those friggin' bastards so I can go and harass the hell out of them!!!!!! The article also mentioned the people who did this to Megan, have been harassed and had their home vandalized since the news broke they were behind this hoax. :cheer: :thumbsup: I don't condone violence, however, these bastards think they did nothing wrong and since criminally there is nothing that can be done, the public feels so outraged. The family of Megan is starting proceedings to sue Megan's harassers in civil court!!!!! AND I HOPE THEY GET LOTS AND LOTS OF $$$$$ AND THOSE STUPID PEOPLE GO BROKE!:D

Well, harrassing them would make one look as nasty as Megan's tormentor did, but, I certainly hope the Meier family win the civil suit over that horrible woman!
Shes destroyed a life, the girl's family, maybe her OWN daughter's reputation, and all she cares about is a stupid foosball game!!!! (Talk about a perfect example of where morals and priorities seem to be these days!) :mad:

Well, harrassing them would make one look as nasty as Megan's tormentor did, but, I certainly hope the Meier family win the civil suit over that horrible woman!
Shes destroyed a life, the girl's family, maybe her OWN daughter's reputation, and all she cares about is a stupid foosball game!!!! (Talk about a perfect example of where morals and priorities seem to be these days!) :mad:
You are absolutely right Mikey. One of the things that I admire abt you is your way of stating how wrong it is to even resort to any form of harassment or violence, no matter what that person(s) has done. Don't get me started on the death penalty though...I stick to my guns on that issue!;)

Your comment on their priorities is so true. A foosball over a human life...:rolleyes:

Frontier justice in an online world?

By P.J. Huffstutter
Los Angeles Times

DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo. — For nearly a year, the families living along Waterford Crystal Drive in this bedroom community northwest of St. Louis kept the secret about the boy Megan Meyer met in September 2006 on the social-networking site MySpace.

He called himself Josh Evans, and he and Meier, 13, struck up an online friendship that lasted for weeks.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/11/22/2004030099.jpg
Megan Meier, 13, committed suicide in 2006.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/11/22/2004030183.jpg
Tina and Ron Meier sit in their daughter's bedroom Sunday. Megan Meier, 13, committed suicide after being rejected on MySpace by a neighbor posing as a teenage boy. Megan's parents believe the taunting contributed to the teen's death.

The boy then abruptly turned on Meier and ended it. Meier, who previously battled depression, committed suicide that night.

The secret was revealed six weeks later: Neighbor mother Lori Drew had pretended to be 16-year-old "Josh" to gain the trust of Meier, who had been fighting with Drew's daughter, according to police records and Meier's parents.

After their daughter's death, Tina and Ron Meier begged other neighbors to keep the story private. Let the local police and the FBI conduct their investigations in privacy, they pleaded.

But after waiting for criminal charges to be filed against Drew, neighbors learned that local and federal prosecutors could not find a statute applicable to the case.

The community's patience dried up. Furious neighbors — and in the wake of recent media reports, an outraged public — are taking matters into their own hands.

In an outburst of virtual vigilantism, readers of blogs listed the Drews' home address, personal phone numbers, e-mail addresses and photographs of the couple.

Dozens of people allegedly have called local businesses that work with the Drew family's advertising-booklet company and flooded the phone lines this week at a local discount department store where Curt Drew reportedly works.

"I posted that — where Curt works. I'm not ashamed to admit that," said Trever Buckles, 40, a neighbor whose two teenage boys grew up with Meier. "Why? Because there's never been any sense of remorse or public apology from the Drews, no 'maybe we made a mistake.' "

Local teenagers and residents protest just steps from their tiny porch. A fake 911 call, claiming a man had been shot inside the Drew home, sent police to surround the one-story house. People drive through the neighborhood in the middle of the night, screaming, "Murderer!"

The Drews, who have mounted cameras and recording devices on the roof of their house to track neighbors' movements, have declined to comment.

Cyberbullying has become an increasingly creepy reality, where the anonymity of video games, message boards and other online forums offer an outlet for taunts. Yet drawing the line between conduct that is illegal and constitutionally protected free speech can be difficult.

Still, Parry Aftab, an Internet privacy lawyer and executive director of WiredSafety.org, notes one federal statute that might apply in the Meier case: the telecommunications harassment law. The law, amended in 2005, prohibits people from using the Internet anonymously with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person. Terri Dougherty, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in St. Louis, declined to comment on whether prosecutors could apply the statute in the case.

The mounting tension worries community leaders. The St. Charles County Sheriff's Department, which rarely visited the suburb, now patrols regularly. County prosecutors are re-examining the case.

On Wednesday, the city's board of alderman unanimously passed a law that makes cyberharassment a misdemeanor with a maximum 90 days in jail, $500 fine or both for each violation. It's the most stringent punishment available to the city.

"We're all in shock," Mayor Pam Fogarty said. "If I have anything to say about it, we'll never have our hands tied legally like this again."

Online chats

Dardenne Prairie is an upper-middle-class enclave of about 7,400 people 35 miles northwest of St. Louis. Over the years, the flat expanse of farmland has been taken over by subdivisions, bistros and strip-mall cafes.

The Meiers moved to the east side of town 13 years ago. The couple was drawn by numerous families and safe streets with names such as Swan Lake Drive and Tri Sports Drive.

"There were kids everywhere, and they've all grown up together," said Tina Meier, 37, who works in real estate. "They ride their bikes together, have barbecues together, go on family vacations together, go to school together."

Megan Meier befriended Lori and Curt Drew's daughter in elementary school, and the two became close, Meier said.

When Megan transferred to a different middle school last fall in an effort to help her deal with her depression and get away from some bullies, the two girls grew apart, her parents said.

Around the same time, Megan started to use the Internet under the supervision of her parents. The eighth-grader browsed through her friends' Web sites and chatted about school.

When a boy, "Josh," messaged her on MySpace and asked to be friends, the girl excitedly agreed. The two talked online for about six weeks, her parents said.

The messages grew nasty in October 2006, according to an FBI transcript. Josh told her he had heard she was a terrible friend and sent a string of disturbing messages and postings that said Megan was "fat" and "a slut."

The final message isn't included in the transcript: "I remember it said something like, 'The world would be a better off place without you,' " said Ron Meier, 37, who works as a machinist.

That evening, as her parents were downstairs preparing for dinner, Megan wrapped a cloth cord around her neck and hanged herself in her closet. She died the next day.

In the weeks that followed, the Drews comforted the Meiers. They said nothing about the fake MySpace account.

They prayed at the wake and consoled sobbing community members at the girl's funeral. They invited the Meiers to birthday parties and had Megan's sister, Allison, over to bake holiday cookies. They asked the Meiers to help hide Christmas gifts in their garage, far from their children's prying eyes.

Last Thanksgiving weekend, the Meiers learned the truth from a neighbor who had figured out that Lori Drew had conducted the online relationship with Megan. In a rage, they hacked up one of the gifts they were storing — a foosball table — with an ax and sledgehammer. They dumped the pieces onto the Drews' driveway.

"I heard this God-awful screaming," said neighbor Kristie Kriss, 48. "It was Tina. When I heard what happened, I couldn't believe it."

Days later, when the Drews complained to police about the loss of their foosball table, the truth became public.

According to a police report, Lori Drew said she "instigated and monitored" a fake account before Megan's suicide "for the sole purpose of communicating" with the girl.

The Meiers hired an attorney.

"We told our friends to trust the system, and we would have our justice," Ron Meier said.

Neighbors couldn't keep their feelings hidden: Many people shunned the Drews, meeting their gaze with sneers and obscene gestures.

On the anniversary of his daughter's death, Ron Meier's relatives lined the street with balloons and put up signs that asked for "justice for Megan."

Meanwhile, the Meiers' marriage fell apart. Tina moved out this spring and lives with her mother. They are getting divorced. Allison, 11, splits her time between the two.

Ron Meier remained in the house on Waterford Crystal Drive and kept his daughter's room exactly as it was before the suicide. Her clothes fill the closet. But he's stopped sleeping at the house.

His attorney suggested that he spend nights with friends or family, because "if something does happen to the Drews, I'm going to be the No. 1 suspect and I'll need a witness to prove my innocence," Ron Meier said.

"All we feel is frustration, anger," neighbor Kriss said. "For months, we've been asking ourselves, 'What mother in her right mind would do this? And why won't the cops do anything to punish them?'

"We just want them gone."

Los Angeles Times researcher DeeDee Correll and the Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.

Now, how do those bastards like being harassed?????? DOESN'T FEEL GOOD DOES IT YOU A**HOLES!!!!!! YOU DESERVE IT!!!!

i didnt realise the suicide was a year ago......still, the story is relevant since it only JUST became public.

Anyone see this? I was reading about this story and there was a list of all the businesses associated with these people (wanted to make sure I wasn't buying from any) and I came across this 'blog' that Sarah Drew (daughter) made (it was confirmed); http://meganhaditcoming.blogspot.com/

Also found this interesting. Gives the lists of businesses at the bottom under Curt's picture. They both look like scum!; http://www.minger.net/

I guess to me anyhow what is really disturbing is that even after all this happened they still think they have done nothing wrong, and that the have no responsibility in all of this. What they did to this poor girl was bad enough, but to even now act like they had nothing to do with it is crazy.

I'm surprised they haven't moved, the creeps. Sad to say that what happened will probably create stronger laws against what they did, but won't be applicable to them.

Also found this interesting. Gives the lists of businesses at the bottom under Curt's picture. They both look like scum!; http://www.minger.net/
ugly bitch.

I'm surprised they haven't moved, the creeps. Sad to say that what happened will probably create stronger laws against what they did, but won't be applicable to them.
So true Janice. Sometimes it takes something terrible to happen for laws and ordinances to be enacted. Currently Megan's parents are working with their city to enact an ordinance within their city regarding cyber harassment. KUDOS TO THEM. Something good has to come out of this situation.

ugly bitch.
agreed!

RIP Megan Meier :(

I find it interesting that the replys to Drew's blog are screened, i guess if you DONT think Megan was at fault, they wont print your reply....A nice little trick the Nazis liked to use in their newspapers!

I find it interesting that the replys to Drew's blog are screened, i guess if you DONT think Megan was at fault, they wont print your reply....I nice little trick the Nazis liked to use in their newspapers!
Hmmmmm...interesting. I guess the harassment will have to be done via other methods then.

I love how you have left that Megan Meier siggy Mikey. :wave:

Hmmmmm...interesting. I guess the harassment will have to be done via other methods then.

I love how you have left that Megan Meier siggy Mikey. :wave:
ill probably take it off on Sunday (the point is made, after all)

that blog is a ****ing joke too. "megan had that abuse and harrassment coming BECAUSE SHE WAS A DRAMA QUEEN." to make a direct quote, "Megan was a total bitch to everyone around her especially Laura so if I was her mom I would be mad at Megan too and I would check up on her to see what **** she was spreading about my daughter." just a mother****ing joke. i realize the girl who wrote that is probably 14ish so of course she wouldn't have the emotional responsibility of being a good parent, but lori, as an adult and a parent, has NO excuse for bullying a child.

This whole thing makes me absolutely sick. Just sick. Yes, they are correct, only Megan is responsible for taking Megan's life, but this is a child we are talking about. A child, not an adult. Lori Drew was the adult. Lori Drew spoke to this child in ways that she should not have. She said things and absolutely did harass this child. She led this child on and played with this child's emotions and spoke to her in a hateful way. There's no doubt in my mind that Lori Drew was out to hurt this child. It doesn't matter what kind of girl this child was, it doesn't matter if she was a "drama queen," it doesn't matter if she was difficult to like, it doesn't matter if she was whiny. She was a 13 year old child whose brain was still developing, who was at an impressionable age, who did the same things that a lot of other 13 year olds do, and who did not deserve to be harassed by any adult. She was a child. All that matters is that Lori Drew is an adult who harassed a child with the intent to hurt her and she should be held responsible and accountable for those actions. Whether we're talking about harassment by adults or whether we're talking about death, no child, no matter how annoying, no matter how immature, no matter how depressed, no matter how many issues, no child ever, ever, ever "has it coming."

What continues to make this worse is the behavior these so-called parents continue to bestow upon everyone. They are teaching their children that it is ok to harass people, no matter the consequences. And for the teen daughter of the Drew's to feel no remorse whatsoever proves the Drew parents succeeded in doing what they showed her what to do. Imagine the adult she will turn into? JUST LIKE HER PARENTS. What a sad, sick turn of events this damn family caused.

I read that blog link and had to respond to that brat. It's amazing that someone takes the time and trouble to dance on the grave of a young girl with emotional problems on the internet. ohno:

I know the circumstances are different, but this reminds me of another crazy mother story, back in the early 90s. Two girls were competing for one cheerleading spot, and the mother of one of the girls tried to have the other girl's mother killed. She figured the daughter would be too distaught over her mother's death, and would drop out of the competition.

Fortunately, her plan didn't work out and she went to prison, for SIX MONTHS. Real sicko. Same sort of deal. Two young girls, a nutjob mother trying to drive a young girl crazy. I don't know how these animals sleep at night. There was a movie made about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Holloway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Positively_True_Adventures_of_the_Alleged_Texas_Cheerleader-Murdering_Mom

I know the circumstances are different, but this reminds me of another crazy mother story, back in the early 90s. Two girls were competing for one cheerleading spot, and the mother of one of the girls tried to have the other girl's mother killed. She figured the daughter would be too distaught over her mother's death, and would drop out of the competition.

Fortunately, her plan didn't work out and she went to prison, for SIX MONTHS. Real sicko. Same sort of deal. Two young girls, a nutjob mother trying to drive a young girl crazy. I don't know how these animals sleep at night. There was a movie made about it.
I think they made THREE movies from that crazy crime. :crazy: Last I heard, the mother never even went to prison. There were appeals and she was allowed to be free on bail...:rolleyes: I haven't bothered to follow-up to find out if she ever did time, but that certainly was a crazy-ass case. The lengths some people go to hurt people for their own agenda.

Yeah, the "Texas Cheerleader Mom" thing........i thought about that case the first time I heard of this one......Women like this shouldnt be raising children

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/03/internet.suicide/index.html

(CNN) -- A Missouri prosecutor said Monday no charges would be sought in the case of a teen who hanged herself last year after chatting on MySpace, although he said adults should have prevented the tragedy.

Megan Meier, 13, killed herself after receiving a critical message on the MySpace social networking site from someone she thought was a boy named "Josh."

St. Charles County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas said an 18-year-old woman posed as "Josh" on MySpace to find out what Megan was saying about a neighbor's daughter.

The message said Megan was "mean" to her friends, Banas said.

"There is no way that anybody could know that talking to someone or saying that you're mean to your friends on the Internet would create a substantial risk," Banas said. "It certainly created a potential risk and, unfortunately for the Meiers, that potential became reality. But under the law we just couldn't show that."

But Banas said that conclusion doesn't mean no one is to blame. "Regardless of what we can charge or what we can't charge, there is no question the adults should have said something to stop this," he said.

Asked whether he is satisfied with laws pertaining to the case, Banas said, "The bottom line is there are some -- I think -- loopholes that I think need to be cleaned up."

The prosecutor said his inability to file charges does not mean those involved in the suicide will go unpunished.

"The loss of a life of a person that they once talked to as a friend, I'm sure, is just twisting them all up inside," Banas said.

Over several weeks, many of the exchanges on MySpace concerned innocuous topics such as what sports they liked, Banas said.

But on October 15, 2006, "another teenage young lady" was given the password to the "Josh" account, Banas said. She reportedly sent Megan a message saying she had heard the girl was "mean to your friends" and adding, "I don't know if I want to be your friend anymore."

Banas said that Megan responded, "Who's saying this? Who's saying I'm mean?"

The next day, the 18-year-old woman -- who was working for a neighbor of Megan's -- used the account to send messages to Megan. Megan asked "Josh" why the messages were nice a day after they were unkind, Banas said.

The 18-year-old woman then reviewed the history of the earlier messages, including Megan's request about who had accused her of not being nice to her friends, he said.

The woman then "fired a statement back to Megan saying, 'I'm not going to tell you who told me that, I don't do that, I don't tell on my friends,' " Banas said.

Megan responded with a message expressing anger and calling "Josh" "a few names," according to Banas.

"Josh" then sent a statement that included something to the effect of "this world would be a better place without you," Banas said. Accounts differ as to who was with the 18-year-old during the typing of the messages, he said.

When Megan's mother returned home, she found her daughter crying at the computer. After reading the messages, she criticized her daughter for using inappropriate language, Banas said.

Telling her mom that "I can't believe you're not on my side," Megan ran upstairs and hanged herself, Banas said.

Missouri's harassment statute says nothing about the Internet, and the stalking statute requires repeated conversations, so neither would apply in this case, Banas said.

The purpose of the neighbor who arranged for the "Josh" character "was never to cause her emotional harassment that we can prove," Banas said. Any case would be based on "what we can prove and what a jury would believe."


UNBELIEVABLE!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/03/internet.suicide/index.html

(CNN) -- A Missouri prosecutor said Monday no charges would be sought in the case of a teen who hanged herself last year after chatting on MySpace, although he said adults should have prevented the tragedy.

Megan Meier, 13, killed herself after receiving a critical message on the MySpace social networking site from someone she thought was a boy named "Josh."

St. Charles County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas said an 18-year-old woman posed as "Josh" on MySpace to find out what Megan was saying about a neighbor's daughter.

The message said Megan was "mean" to her friends, Banas said.

"There is no way that anybody could know that talking to someone or saying that you're mean to your friends on the Internet would create a substantial risk," Banas said. "It certainly created a potential risk and, unfortunately for the Meiers, that potential became reality. But under the law we just couldn't show that."

But Banas said that conclusion doesn't mean no one is to blame. "Regardless of what we can charge or what we can't charge, there is no question the adults should have said something to stop this," he said.

Asked whether he is satisfied with laws pertaining to the case, Banas said, "The bottom line is there are some -- I think -- loopholes that I think need to be cleaned up."

The prosecutor said his inability to file charges does not mean those involved in the suicide will go unpunished.

"The loss of a life of a person that they once talked to as a friend, I'm sure, is just twisting them all up inside," Banas said.

Over several weeks, many of the exchanges on MySpace concerned innocuous topics such as what sports they liked, Banas said.

But on October 15, 2006, "another teenage young lady" was given the password to the "Josh" account, Banas said. She reportedly sent Megan a message saying she had heard the girl was "mean to your friends" and adding, "I don't know if I want to be your friend anymore."

Banas said that Megan responded, "Who's saying this? Who's saying I'm mean?"

The next day, the 18-year-old woman -- who was working for a neighbor of Megan's -- used the account to send messages to Megan. Megan asked "Josh" why the messages were nice a day after they were unkind, Banas said.

The 18-year-old woman then reviewed the history of the earlier messages, including Megan's request about who had accused her of not being nice to her friends, he said.

The woman then "fired a statement back to Megan saying, 'I'm not going to tell you who told me that, I don't do that, I don't tell on my friends,' " Banas said.

Megan responded with a message expressing anger and calling "Josh" "a few names," according to Banas.

"Josh" then sent a statement that included something to the effect of "this world would be a better place without you," Banas said. Accounts differ as to who was with the 18-year-old during the typing of the messages, he said.

When Megan's mother returned home, she found her daughter crying at the computer. After reading the messages, she criticized her daughter for using inappropriate language, Banas said.

Telling her mom that "I can't believe you're not on my side," Megan ran upstairs and hanged herself, Banas said.

Missouri's harassment statute says nothing about the Internet, and the stalking statute requires repeated conversations, so neither would apply in this case, Banas said.

The purpose of the neighbor who arranged for the "Josh" character "was never to cause her emotional harassment that we can prove," Banas said. Any case would be based on "what we can prove and what a jury would believe."


UNBELIEVABLE!
"There is no way that anybody could know that talking to someone or saying that you're mean to your friends on the Internet would create a substantial risk," Banas said. "It certainly created a potential risk and, unfortunately for the Meiers, that potential became reality. But under the law we just couldn't show that."



Idiots...maybe I could believe that if it was a stranger but these people knew Megan and knew of her fragile state of mind. The mother absolutely contributed to her death...she's an adult and she messed around with the mind of a child. Their's no excuse for that and laws have to be changed. Everyone says to protect the children but who protected Megan from this bitch?

Wow this was even more complicated than we thought :eek2:

Still, this shouldnt go unpunnished! :mad:

I had heard this news yesterday when the mother appeared on Fox News. Even the newscasters showed their disgust at this whole matter. The mother said she has received all kinds of support via mail, emails, a memorial that has been set up on the internet, phone calls, people who just want to show their love and understanding to the Meiers family while also expressing their anger and disbelief at those who inflicted this pain upon them.

I am so disgusted, yet not surprised there is nothing to charge them with. Nothing had occurred (until now) to justify having a law like this on the books. Hopefully with the ordinance that is being worked on in their town, that ordinance can work its way to a law in all states regarding the harassment of minors on the internet.

Had those "adults" had harassed Megan IN PERSON, TO HER FACE, they would be charged with something. Why is it because it was done behind closed doors (via the internet) is it different???????

Does anyone know her myspace link?

Does anyone know her myspace link?
NVM here is hers:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=109782507

but it no longer accepts requests so add this one if you have myspace:
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MEGAN_MEIER_OUR_ANGEL

NVM here is hers:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=109782507

but it no longer accepts requests so add this one if you have myspace:
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MEGAN_MEIER_OUR_ANGEL
Her family runs the second one I believe. They joined my myspace group. :)

I hate to say this but Megan's mom is also partly at fault here, because she acted at first like she was not on Megan's side and I believe that pushed Megan over the edge.
Huh??? I have no idea what you mean by this?

Huh??? I have no idea what you mean by this?
Lee's refering to this , which is a part of Kellys last "news item" post:

"When Megan's mother returned home, she found her daughter crying at the computer. After reading the messages, she criticized her daughter for using inappropriate language, Banas said.

Telling her mom that "I can't believe you're not on my side," Megan ran upstairs and hanged herself, Banas said."

Please do not criticize the St. Charles County prosecutor in this case. I am
sure he would want to prosecute if he could but his hands are tied. There
is currently no law in St. Charles County against this type of crime. I am
sure he feels sorry for the family of Megan Meier. I hate to say this but
Megan's mom is also partly at fault here, because she acted at first like she
was not on Megan's side and I believe that pushed Megan over the edge.
By posting the link to the prosecutor not pressing charges, we were not criticizing him. Even Megan's mother understands his hands are tied if you've seen the interview, but to suggest that Megan's mother was at fault, wow.:(

By posting the link to the prosecutor not pressing charges, we were not criticizing him. Even Megan's mother understands his hands are tied if you've seen the interview, but to suggest that Megan's mother was at fault, wow.:(


I did not say the mother was the only one at fault, but she did contribute,
even if it was not intentional.

what that bitch did was disgusting and i would do everything i could to ruin her life if i were close to megan, but rationally speaking, it isn't against the law to send a few rotten messages to someone over the internet during an argument. there was no stalking, threatening, harrassing, etc.. people would say it's harrassing, and frankly it is, but not on an illegal level. i've gotten messages/posts from people on this very board that were way worse than the ones megan got. and i'm not saying it can't be a big deal to others, but since those people weren't actually going out of their way to follow and continue sending me endless numbers of those messages, i really didn't see it as a legal issue, and it wasn't.

what that bitch did was disgusting and i would do everything i could to ruin her life if i were close to megan, but rationally speaking, it isn't against the law to send a few rotten messages to someone over the internet during an argument. there was no stalking, threatening, harrassing, etc.. people would say it's harrassing, and frankly it is, but not on an illegal level. i've gotten messages/posts from people on this very board that were way worse than the ones megan got. and i'm not saying it can't be a big deal to others, but since those people weren't actually going out of their way to follow and continue sending me endless numbers of those messages, i really didn't see it as a legal issue, and it wasn't.
Technically, you are correct, however, the laws in that state will likely be changed, so that the next person will think twice before using the internet in such a way...which is as it should be.

I did not say the mother was the only one at fault, but she did contribute,
even if it was not intentional.
You still have not clarified how Megan's mother contributed to her daughter's death? What? She didn't run to Megan's room fast enough to find her hanging herself?

A mother telling their child abt their choice of words is something many parents tell their child(ren). I think at that point, Megan's mother had not yet been aware of what had really occurred. She was not aware an adult was harassing her child. I believe Megan's mother thought her daughter was chatting online with someone and using language that she didn't approve of. I am thinking Megan was hysterical and wasn't making sense, since Megan herself believed that Josh was a real person up until she killed herself. Megan never knew the truth. Certainly her mother didn't know until it was too late.

I'm not blaming the parents, but I will say that if I had a 13-year emotionally unstable child, I would watch their every move on the web. Who they're chatting with, sites they're visiting, EVERYTHING, etc, etc, etc. I would do that even if my child wasn't unstable. The Internet can be a dangerous place for anyone. There's too many psychos and predators out there, and as we saw here, heartless bastards.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/03/internet.suicide/index.html

(CNN) -- A Missouri prosecutor said Monday no charges would be sought in the case of a teen who hanged herself last year after chatting on MySpace, although he said adults should have prevented the tragedy.

Megan Meier, 13, killed herself after receiving a critical message on the MySpace social networking site from someone she thought was a boy named "Josh."

St. Charles County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas said an 18-year-old woman posed as "Josh" on MySpace to find out what Megan was saying about a neighbor's daughter.

The message said Megan was "mean" to her friends, Banas said.

"There is no way that anybody could know that talking to someone or saying that you're mean to your friends on the Internet would create a substantial risk," Banas said. "It certainly created a potential risk and, unfortunately for the Meiers, that potential became reality. But under the law we just couldn't show that."

But Banas said that conclusion doesn't mean no one is to blame. "Regardless of what we can charge or what we can't charge, there is no question the adults should have said something to stop this," he said.

Asked whether he is satisfied with laws pertaining to the case, Banas said, "The bottom line is there are some -- I think -- loopholes that I think need to be cleaned up."

The prosecutor said his inability to file charges does not mean those involved in the suicide will go unpunished.

"The loss of a life of a person that they once talked to as a friend, I'm sure, is just twisting them all up inside," Banas said.

Over several weeks, many of the exchanges on MySpace concerned innocuous topics such as what sports they liked, Banas said.

But on October 15, 2006, "another teenage young lady" was given the password to the "Josh" account, Banas said. She reportedly sent Megan a message saying she had heard the girl was "mean to your friends" and adding, "I don't know if I want to be your friend anymore."

Banas said that Megan responded, "Who's saying this? Who's saying I'm mean?"

The next day, the 18-year-old woman -- who was working for a neighbor of Megan's -- used the account to send messages to Megan. Megan asked "Josh" why the messages were nice a day after they were unkind, Banas said.

The 18-year-old woman then reviewed the history of the earlier messages, including Megan's request about who had accused her of not being nice to her friends, he said.

The woman then "fired a statement back to Megan saying, 'I'm not going to tell you who told me that, I don't do that, I don't tell on my friends,' " Banas said.

Megan responded with a message expressing anger and calling "Josh" "a few names," according to Banas.

"Josh" then sent a statement that included something to the effect of "this world would be a better place without you," Banas said. Accounts differ as to who was with the 18-year-old during the typing of the messages, he said.

When Megan's mother returned home, she found her daughter crying at the computer. After reading the messages, she criticized her daughter for using inappropriate language, Banas said.

Telling her mom that "I can't believe you're not on my side," Megan ran upstairs and hanged herself, Banas said.

Missouri's harassment statute says nothing about the Internet, and the stalking statute requires repeated conversations, so neither would apply in this case, Banas said.

The purpose of the neighbor who arranged for the "Josh" character "was never to cause her emotional harassment that we can prove," Banas said. Any case would be based on "what we can prove and what a jury would believe."
This story reads different from the original version. I don't see the neighbor parents mentioned. I'm confused.

I think Megan's mother felt Megan was in a better mood since chatting online. I believe it is on this thread somewhere where Megan's mother said her child's mood improved and she seemed happy with her new friends at school, her weight loss and her upcoming birthday (that info I posted abt). I know having dealt with a depressed teen myself that when you see your child being happy, being in better moods for longer periods of time, you feel good and hope that everything is going to be alright. I couldn't watch my daughter 24/7. She was in school and had outside activities but I had hoped that someday she would get better. We can't always see the signs or the clues that tell us something is wrong. I feel so bad for Megan's family, especially her mother. I am sure she is blaming herself for not finding out abt this whole hoax a lot sooner.

I think Megan's mother felt Megan was in a better mood since chatting online.
And we know how great all that worked out. What I'm saying is that I would know exactly who my child was chatting with online. I'd check the person out myself. Too many predators, and Megan was unstable. She was a target. I personally know of things happening on this site, which I won't get into. Some people take their frustrations out on the young and the emotionally weak. Others, adults, taking advantage of unstable teenagers and having them do their online dirtywork for them. I've seen it all, and it's ugly.

This story reads different from the original version. I don't see the neighbor parents mentioned. I'm confused.
Yea I must admit I am too. Was it the mother who was doing the harassment or was it an 18 year old teen ?

My opinion is still if an adult uses tricks or lies in order to harass a minor and that causes something like this to happen, they should be held responsible. I'm not talking about just an internet fight but if real deceit is involved. The Adult should know better.

i haven't read all the replies in details, so this might have already been said, but oh well...

As far as Mrs. Drew is concerened, I don't care if Megan was a flaming bitch who cussed her daughter out regularly and beat her... she had no right to do what she did. Nothing will ever justify what she did to Megan... she could write a 10 page blog and it still wouldn't exuse her. What she did was inexusable and immature. Justice will not be served until Lori Drew is serving life in prison. As far as I am concerned, Lori might as well have put the noose around Megan's neck.

I think poor Megan's death is a terrible, terrible tragedy. :( She was only 13 years old and had her entire life ahead of her. :(

http://meganhaditcoming.blogspot.com/

Did anyone see this recent blog by "Lori Drew" stating the whole story why she did what she did? If this really is Lori Drew, wow!

I had read that and I am just disgusted, reading that or not. I am sick that adults can't even acknowledge that whatever part they played in this girl's death.

Lori Drew is denying that she made that blog. As much of a creep she is, for whatever her role is in this tragedy, nobody is that stupid. I can't believe anyone would fall for this.

http://meganhaditcoming.blogspot.com/

Did anyone see this recent blog by "Lori Drew" stating the whole story why she did what she did? If this really is Lori Drew, wow!
yeah, i saw that the day it was posted. it seems like some prankster to be honest, but i left her a nasty comment anyway just in case it's really her.

most likely a hoax, but it if it isn't...that's disgusting.

Lori Drew is pathetic and stupid anyways just for creating "Josh" to seek revenge for her daughter. That is crazy. Whether she made that blog or not, it wouldn't surprise me if it was her. This is a supposed adult woman, a mother and wife and she teased, harassed and blatanly sought to find some sort of crooked justice for her daughter by finding out what Megan "really thought abt her daughter"? Who gives a rat's ass what anyone thinks abt the Drews' daughter. Teens can be cruel and harsh. If Lori has issues with people talking smack abt her "beloved daughter" she needs counseling or therapy because that is what teens in general do. For her to have gone to such lengths for her daughter tells me that woman is crazy in some fashion, especially now for denying any role she played in the role of Megan committing suicide. Lori Drew is THAT STUPID, she has proven she can do some pretty stupid things. So much so it led a child killing themself. Lori Drew has no credibility. That will play a major part in the civil suit the Meiers have against the Drews.

agreed. there is no excuse for doing what she did, especially a lame one like "omgzz she wuz mean 2 my daughter :( :( :(". even if she was mean to her daughter, what sane adult hinks "hey this girl is being mean to my daughter...let me go torment and harass her over Myspace!". disgusting.

It seems from the latest news report that was posted here yesterday, that the police investigation shows that it was an 18-year old sending Megan those messages, from the Drew household. I'm reading two different stories. What gives here. Regarding this blog, for heaven's sake, it's as phony as a three dollar bill. As if Lori would create a blog called, Megan had it coming.

I'll say it again it, and I don't care who agrees or disagrees with me. I think Megan's parents share some of the responsibility. Megan was a disturbed 13-year old. "Josh" was 16, and they chatted for six weeks. I read yesterday that the messages took a sexual turn, but I'm not sure if that's true. In any case, who allows their 13-year old daughter to chat online with a 16-year old? They apparently were okay with it, if they knew. If they didn't know, they were neglectful. I'm not blaming Megan's parents. I'm simply saying that, had they kept a more careful watch on their daughter's Internet activity, this wouldn't have happened.

When I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to sleep over my friend's houses, unless it was a pajama party, or one friend who lived across the street. My parents were friends with those parents. I used to say to my mother that so and so had nice parents, and she'd say to me, "I'm sure that's true, but I don't know their older brothers or their uncles."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315684,00.html

MySpace Mom Linked to Missouri Teen's Suicide Being Cyber-Bullied Herself

The woman linked to a fake MySpace profile of a 16-year-old boy created to start an Internet relationship with Megan Meier, the Missouri teen who hanged herself after receiving hurtful messages, is now believed to be the victim of a cyber-bullying impersonator herself.

And the online harassment laws that were passed after Meier's death last year now may be used to help the middle-aged woman, who many believe was responsible for the 13-year-old girl's suicide.

On Dec. 3, a blog entitled "Megan Had It Coming" carried an entry signed by Lori Drew, the woman involved in creating the fictitious profile that taunted Meier. The blog entry appeared on the same day St. Charles County Prosecutor Jack Banas announced there wasn't enough evidence to charge anyone in connection with Meier's death.

"It's time I dropped the charade. Yes, I made this blog. Yes, I'm Lori Drew," the blogger wrote.

The posting, which recounts in chilling detail the entire Megan Meier incident, mentions Drew's daughter, who was once friends with Meier. At the time Meier was engaged in the bogus relationship on MySpace, the two girls were no longer close.

"My daughter had nothing to do with this," the blogger purporting to be Drew wrote. "Everyone needs to leave her alone. None of you can possibly know her involvement, and none of you can possibly know what she's gone through. She's just a kid. She doesn't deserve these brutal verbal attacks. Please stop."

In response to this blog and other news items about the case, angry Internet users left postings of Drew's home phone number, her business address and other personal information, urging people to tell Drew what they really think of her.

Comments on the "I Am Lori Drew" entry, many of them unsavory, numbered more than 2,500 on Thursday. "You have psychological problems," one began. "Don't burn in hell. Instead, I hope you rot in the dirt with the maggots and other disgusting vermin, since that's the only thing you deserve," another ended.

Drew's attorney, Jim Briscoe, denied that Drew had any involvement with the "Megan Had It Coming" blog.

"I can categorically say that she did not write it," Briscoe told FOXNews.com. "She has not said anything on the Internet, on any blogs, on any Internet sites."

Briscoe said that Drew, a neighbor of the Meiers, has purposely remained silent in the media and online during the investigation and since.

"That's part of why she's remained silent, so there's no confusion about that," Briscoe said. "Anything that's on the Web is not true. She hasn't done anything. She doesn't know anybody who's done it — anybody who's doing it or has done it."

Prosecutor Banas confirmed to FOXNews.com that the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the "Megan Had It Coming" blog and other postings falsely attributed to Drew have violated any online harassment laws.

On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, speaking at a national conference of law enforcement officials in St. Louis, promised to keep up the pressure against online predators who target children.

Meier hanged herself on Oct. 16, 2006, after being dumped by "Josh," a fictitious boy created by an 18-year-old employee of Drew, in order to find out what Meier was saying about the Drews' daughter.

Dardenne Prairie, Mo., Meier's hometown, has since passed a law making online harassment a misdemeanor. Her death also prompted Gov. Matt Blunt on Tuesday to call for the creation of an Internet harassment task force, with recommendations to be made to his office within 30 days.

“Megan Meier’s senseless death is a tragic lesson that social networking sites and technology have opened a new door for criminals and bullies to prey on their victims,” Blunt said in a statement. “As families and friends continue to remember Megan and celebrate her life, we must ensure that our laws have the protections and penalties needed to safeguard Missourians from Internet harassment.”

Some online readers, skeptical that the blog belonged to Drew, surmised it to be the work of an Internet "troll."

Blogger.com, which houses the blog and lists "impersonation" as one of the things banned from the site, said it has no information that would call into question the authenticity of the "Megan Had It Coming" site.

"We take violations of Blogger's policy very seriously as such activities diminish the experience for our users," a spokesman for Google, Blogger's parent company, told FOXNews.com.

"Once we are notified about a blog that impersonates a person, we act quickly to remove it. We have not received an impersonation claim to date from the individual allegedly being impersonated."

Drew's lawyer said that online harassment laws could be used against those leaving messages for his client.

"I haven't seen the laws so I don't know exactly what they cover, but certainly she is being harassed by the Internet," Briscoe said. "Potentially, laws that are now being created out of this may be ones that people who are harassing her could be prosecuted [under]."

On Dec. 3, Banas said that statements from Drew and two teens who participated in the fictitious account couldn't meet criminal standards for the state's statutes on harassment, stalking or endangering the welfare of a child.

And your mom was right on there Janice.

I had two different girlfriends who's uncles "came on" to me. Luckily I was able to get away.

I also had a friend who was molested by a friend's brother and cousin. I guess you can't lock them in a cage, but these days parents have to be sooooo careful. I look back now, and even in the 70s my parents were way to slack. I did things I would never even post on SO. And it was crazy how often I'd say to myself after the fact how risky it had been and what an idiot I had been to do it. Sometimes I wonder how I made it to 18.


The whole story is sickening though. Amazes me that somebody's parents would even have the time these days to do that let alone the mindset. :rolleyes:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315684,00.html
what an idiot. a 35-year old bullying a 13-year old girl with DEPRESSION issues is totally different then readers angrily replying to a 35-year old's blog (although its obviously fake), especially one that's been all over the news for leading a teenage girl to suicide.

This comment from the post above from FOX news is soooooooo ironic:

Prosecutor Banas confirmed to FOXNews.com that the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the "Megan Had It Coming" blog and other postings falsely attributed to Drew have violated any online harassment laws.


^^^They are investigating whether the blog violated any online harassment laws.

:rolleyes:

This comment from the post above from FOX news is soooooooo ironic:

Prosecutor Banas confirmed to FOXNews.com that the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the "Megan Had It Coming" blog and other postings falsely attributed to Drew have violated any online harassment laws.


^^^They are investigating whether the blog violated any online harassment laws.

:rolleyes:



Friggin' incredile isn't it? :rolleyes:

This comment from the post above from FOX news is soooooooo ironic:

Prosecutor Banas confirmed to FOXNews.com that the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the "Megan Had It Coming" blog and other postings falsely attributed to Drew have violated any online harassment laws.


^^^They are investigating whether the blog violated any online harassment laws.

:rolleyes:
Are you kidding????? If anyone's comments were found as "harassment" charges can be brought against them but not Lori Drew? WOW!

This comment from the post above from FOX news is soooooooo ironic:

Prosecutor Banas confirmed to FOXNews.com that the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the "Megan Had It Coming" blog and other postings falsely attributed to Drew have violated any online harassment laws.


^^^They are investigating whether the blog violated any online harassment laws.

:rolleyes:
thats awful. i doubt theyll find anything though.

Are you kidding????? If anyone's comments were found as "harassment" charges can be brought against them but not Lori Drew? WOW!
The irony of it all. :rolleyes:

The irony of it all. :rolleyes:
Yeah :rolleyes:

This comment from the post above from FOX news is soooooooo ironic:

Prosecutor Banas confirmed to FOXNews.com that the St. Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the "Megan Had It Coming" blog and other postings falsely attributed to Drew have violated any online harassment laws.


^^^They are investigating whether the blog violated any online harassment laws.

:rolleyes:
what that prankster did was far different from what lori did. from a legal (not moral) perspective, it's worse.

Bullying is not just one my pet peeves. It's my biggest pet peeve. Anyone who knows me, knows this. The fastest route to my bad side is to try to bully someone. Notice the word, TRY. A few years back, a member with an emotional handicap (not depression), kept sending me these pleading PMs to stop the bullying. My eyes would tear up when I read them, just begging me to help. Someone actually signed up, as ME, at another website, where this person was a member, to taunt and bully this person there. What was taking place was cruel beyond words. I tried issuing warnings, to no avail, then finally, TJ was kind enough to issue a warning announcement. Suppose that person committed suicide.

Adult bullying can be very harmful as well. I speak from experience. I was the victim of a coordinated gangup, a few years back, so nasty and vicious, that I quit moderating. Many who participatd felt bad about it afterwards and apologized. One person, who had it in bad for me, orchestrated it. To this day, I remember how traumatizing it was. I was instrumental in putting a stop to Rich being bullied. The poor guy was ready to leave. Actually TJ banned the bully. I just made all the noise. Rich knows the feeling of being bullied.

We have a couple of regular members who take pleasure in bullying newbies. If you see yourself in that last sentence, then tag, you're it. I was told by a friend of mine here that a member tried to recruit this person to go against me. Evidently this person didn't realize how friendly I was with the other person, and was told to take a hike. I'm friendly with that person now, but it's always in the back of my mind, filed under 'Sneak'. I've had e:mails and PMs forwarded to me, with members looking to gang up on another member. I witnessed one incident so troubling that I literally didn't sleep all night, because of it. We have another member who's been hounded by a twisted maniac troll for years, making such cruel statements.

I've gone screaming to TJ over bullying incidents. Fortunately, he shares my hatred for bullying as well. Nobody, on my watch will EVER be bullied. There's a special place in hell for Lori Drew. I wish they would pass strong laws for bullying (online and off) because it can be devastating to the victim, whether they're 13 or 40, with or without emotional problems. On message boards, it's particularly humiliating because it's public.

I'm wondering if MySpace bears any responsibility for this. I read that you're supposed to be 14 to be a member. I think Megan was preyed upon, and not protected enough. An emotionally troubled and depressed 13-year old girl needed protection from the Lori Drews of the world. She was not given that protection. If she was, she would be alive today.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/100880/internet_safety_for_kids_how_to_keep.html (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/100880/internet_safety_for_kids_how_to_keep.html)

Internet Safety for Kids: How to Keep Your Children Safe Online

Children and teenagers really like chat rooms and sites like MySpace.com. These can be great ways for teenagers to get to know others who share their same interests. However, these sites can also be dangerous due to online predators, cyber bullying, inappropriate language and other such dangers. This is why parents need to be sure that their children and teenagers know how to be safe online. Some things that parents can do include:

1. One of the best things that you can do is have your computer in a public part of your home so that you can easily keep an eye on your children and teenagers while limiting their time online.

2. Since you cannot always be with your children and teenagers while they are online, there are some software programs that you can purchase and install on your computer. These programs will record your children's conversations, limit the time that is spent online and prevent the sharing of personal information.

3. Discuss with your child and teenager the rules for using chat rooms and the Internet itself. Make sure that everyone agrees with these rules and then post them where they can be seen while your children and teenagers are online.

4. Make sure that you have any passwords and user names for any and all sites that your children and teenagers visit online.

Of course, there are also some things that children and teenagers must also do in order to keep themselves safe. This includes:

1. Never give out any personal information. This also means that you should not send pictures to anyone that you meet online.

2. Only go to chat rooms that have a moderator.

3. Any mean or inappropriate language or pictures should be shared with the family.

4. You should never agree to meet anyone in person that you have met online.

5. Keep your password, user name and log in information to yourself and never share it with anyone else except for their parents.

6. Make sure that it is all right with your parents before you have a private chat with anyone.

I'll say it again it, and I don't care who agrees or disagrees with me. I think Megan's parents share some of the responsibility. Megan was a disturbed 13-year old. "Josh" was 16, and they chatted for six weeks. I read yesterday that the messages took a sexual turn, but I'm not sure if that's true. In any case, who allows their 13-year old daughter to chat online with a 16-year old? They apparently were okay with it, if they knew. If they didn't know, they were neglectful. I'm not blaming Megan's parents. I'm simply saying that, had they kept a more careful watch on their daughter's Internet activity, this wouldn't have happened.

When I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to sleep over my friend's houses, unless it was a pajama party, or one friend who lived across the street. My parents were friends with those parents. I used to say to my mother that so and so had nice parents, and she'd say to me, "I'm sure that's true, but I don't know their older brothers or their uncles."
I absolutely agree with your statement. Where were Megan's parents during all of this? I know you can't watch your kids 24/7, but you can monitor their online activity.

As a father of two young girls, you damn well better know that I will see what they are doing online. I don't want to blame Megan's parents entirely, but they do need to take a piece of this blame.

Bullying is not just one my pet peeves. It's my biggest pet peeve. Anyone who knows me, knows this. The fastest route to my bad side is to try to bully someone. Notice the word, TRY. A few years back, a member with an emotional handicap (not depression), kept sending me these pleading PMs to stop the bullying. My eyes would tear up when I read them, just begging me to help. Someone actually signed up, as ME, at another website, where this person was a member, to taunt and bully this person there. What was taking place was cruel beyond words. I tried issuing warnings, to no avail, then finally, TJ was kind enough to issue a warning announcement. Suppose that person committed suicide.

Adult bullying can be very harmful as well. I speak from experience. I was the victim of a coordinated gangup, a few years back, so nasty and vicious, that I quit moderating. Many who participatd felt bad about it afterwards and apologized. One person, who had it in bad for me, orchestrated it. To this day, I remember how traumatizing it was. I was instrumental in putting a stop to Rich being bullied. The poor guy was ready to leave. Actually TJ banned the bully. I just made all the noise. Rich knows the feeling of being bullied.

We have a couple of regular members who take pleasure in bullying newbies. If you see yourself in that last sentence, then tag, you're it. I was told by a friend of mine here that a member tried to recruit this person to go against me. Evidently this person didn't realize how friendly I was with the other person, and was told to take a hike. I'm friendly with that person now, but it's always in the back of my mind, filed under 'Sneak'. I've had e:mails and PMs forwarded to me, with members looking to gang up on another member. I witnessed one incident so troubling that I literally didn't sleep all night, because of it. We have another member who's been hounded by a twisted maniac troll for years, making such cruel statements.

I've gone screaming to TJ over bullying incidents. Fortunately, he shares my hatred for bullying as well. Nobody, on my watch will EVER be bullied. There's a special place in hell for Lori Drew. I wish they would pass strong laws for bullying (online and off) because it can be devastating to the victim, whether they're 13 or 40, with or without emotional problems. On message boards, it's particularly humiliating because it's public.

I'm wondering if MySpace bears any responsibility for this. I read that you're supposed to be 14 to be a member. I think Megan was preyed upon, and not protected enough. An emotionally troubled and depressed 13-year old girl needed protection from the Lori Drews of the world. She was not given that protection. If she was, she would be alive today.
i agree. bullying can do serious emotional damage to someone. that's just the reality of human psychology, no matter how many people think it's a silly thing to get upset over.

as far as myspace is concerned, there's really nothing they could have done. they delete profiles when they know that the user is under 14. they also give safety tips and allow you to block other users and report cyberbullying. it's a very secure web site, it's just made out to be otherwise by people who don't have much experience with it.

I absolutely agree with your statement. Where were Megan's parents during all of this? I know you can't watch your kids 24/7, but you can monitor their online activity.

As a father of two young girls, you damn well better know that I will see what they are doing online. I don't want to blame Megan's parents entirely, but they do need to take a piece of this blame.
her parents closely monitored her communication with "josh". tina said in an interview that she even went to the police to see if she can find out whether a myspace profile is real or not after megan started talking to him.

i agree. bullying can do serious emotional damage to someone. that's just the reality of human psychology, no matter how many people think it's a silly thing to get upset over.


Sarah, I am sorry I said the things I said in the past to harass you. Can you
forgive me?

her parents closely monitored her communication with "josh". tina said in an interview that she even went to the police to see if she can find out whether a myspace profile is real or not after megan started talking to him.
Where did you read that?

I can say with certainty that, had the Internet been around, my parents would never allow me to chat online with a 16-year old, if I was 13-years old. I know I wouldn't if it was my child. I'm reading on TheSmokingGun.com that it did take on a sexual nature. Megan's parent's should have been aware of that.

Edit: Megan's mother did try to verify the account, and was told it couldn't be done. Doesn't make it any better, given the ages and the tone of the communication.

Sarah, I am sorry I said the things I said in the past to harass you. Can you
forgive me?
yeah, don't worry about it. i never hated you or anything.

I can say with certainty that, had the Internet been around, my parents would never allow me to chat online with a 16-year old, if I was 13-years old. I know I wouldn't if it was my child.
that's understandable. i've been seriously addicted to the internet since i was eleven years old, and now that i think about it, neither of my parents ever monitored what i was doing. my mom was cautious though. she talked to me once about how people aren't always who they say they are and how dangerous it is to give out personal information. believe it or not she was reluctant at first about letting me post a picture of myself online because she thought i was pretty and would attract sexual predators. but neither she or my dad never asked about which sites i looked at or what kind of people i talked to. i suppose that since they hadn't used the internet much beforehand either, they didn't realize that there are more dangers to it than predators. a few years ago when we started the secret santa thing on here, i told my dad what was going on and asked if i could participate, and he was totally ok with it, didn't ask anything. makes me think he always just assumed i was very responsible about what i did, and it kind of worries me and at the same time makes me glad that nothing too drastic has happened. i doubt that he didn't care or anything, but if i ever had kids i know i would monitor their online activity a lot more than my parents did for me.

that's understandable. i've been seriously addicted to the internet since i was eleven years old, and now that i think about it, neither of my parents ever monitored what i was doing. my mom was cautious though. she talked to me once about how people aren't always who they say they are and how dangerous it is to give out personal information. believe it or not she was reluctant at first about letting me post a picture of myself online because she thought i was pretty and would attract sexual predators. but neither she or my dad never asked about which sites i looked at or what kind of people i talked to. i suppose that since they hadn't used the internet much beforehand either, they didn't realize that there are more dangers to it than predators. a few years ago when we started the secret santa thing on here, i told my dad what was going on and asked if i could participate, and he was totally ok with it, didn't ask anything. makes me think he always just assumed i was very responsible about what i did, and it kind of worries me and at the same time makes me glad that nothing too drastic has happened. i doubt that he didn't care or anything, but if i ever had kids i know i would monitor their online activity a lot more than my parents did for me.
The Internet was newer when your Mom was here, Sarah, and had she lived to see it take off, I think she would have been extra cautious, as you got older. That's how she sounded to me. All Dads are clueless, lol. Just kidding. You got sidelined emotionally, losing your Mother at such a young age, and found SO. I'm glad you found it. A site like this, we're an online community. I can't think of a person here who I wouldn't give my address to, of the regulars. I trust everyone here. It's the new people out there in cyberspace that you have to watch out for. I read last month about a poor young woman who found a Nanny position through Craigslist, and ended up getting murdered.

http://www.crimerant.com/?p=1179

The Internet can be a scary place. My stepson has a 13-year old daughter. He has more parental controls going, and watches her like a HAWK. Anything less is irresponsible, in my opinion.

Also, like too much tv is no good for kids and teens, I don't think young people living on the web is such a great idea. I should talk, but I'm older, and I've lived a full life. When I was young, they couldn't find me with a search party, lol. It tends to isolate some, so they don't even want to go out into the world. How are people who never leave their computer going to find their soulmate, have kids, etc? I don't mean you. I'm talking about the people who only have online friends, and their entire social life is inside a computer screen. It just doesn't seem healthy to me. I'd never allow it.

This conversation has gotten so interesting...and, some good insight there, Janice! :cow: yup yup!

This is heartbreaking. Megan's parents are obviously nice people. Maybe they just got too comfortable. I don't know. I'd like to strangle that Drew witch. :mad:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Qzl2Q5uOUE

Bullying is not just one my pet peeves. It's my biggest pet peeve. Anyone who knows me, knows this. The fastest route to my bad side is to try to bully someone. Notice the word, TRY. A few years back, a member with an emotional handicap (not depression), kept sending me these pleading PMs to stop the bullying. My eyes would tear up when I read them, just begging me to help. Someone actually signed up, as ME, at another website, where this person was a member, to taunt and bully this person there. What was taking place was cruel beyond words. I tried issuing warnings, to no avail, then finally, TJ was kind enough to issue a warning announcement. Suppose that person committed suicide.

Adult bullying can be very harmful as well. I speak from experience. I was the victim of a coordinated gangup, a few years back, so nasty and vicious, that I quit moderating. Many who participatd felt bad about it afterwards and apologized. One person, who had it in bad for me, orchestrated it. To this day, I remember how traumatizing it was. I was instrumental in putting a stop to Rich being bullied. The poor guy was ready to leave. Actually TJ banned the bully. I just made all the noise. Rich knows the feeling of being bullied.

We have a couple of regular members who take pleasure in bullying newbies. If you see yourself in that last sentence, then tag, you're it. I was told by a friend of mine here that a member tried to recruit this person to go against me. Evidently this person didn't realize how friendly I was with the other person, and was told to take a hike. I'm friendly with that person now, but it's always in the back of my mind, filed under 'Sneak'. I've had e:mails and PMs forwarded to me, with members looking to gang up on another member. I witnessed one incident so troubling that I literally didn't sleep all night, because of it. We have another member who's been hounded by a twisted maniac troll for years, making such cruel statements.

I've gone screaming to TJ over bullying incidents. Fortunately, he shares my hatred for bullying as well. Nobody, on my watch will EVER be bullied. There's a special place in hell for Lori Drew. I wish they would pass strong laws for bullying (online and off) because it can be devastating to the victim, whether they're 13 or 40, with or without emotional problems. On message boards, it's particularly humiliating because it's public.

I'm wondering if MySpace bears any responsibility for this. I read that you're supposed to be 14 to be a member. I think Megan was preyed upon, and not protected enough. An emotionally troubled and depressed 13-year old girl needed protection from the Lori Drews of the world. She was not given that protection. If she was, she would be alive today.


This is a great post, Janice. I too am really, really against bullying. I think it is such a terrible thing when certain people take pleasure out of making others feel bad about themselves. :mad: :(

I feel for Megan's family so much. When you have a child who is depressed and possibly suicidal (did they even know that abt Megan?) I mean, we know now her depression led her to commit suicide, but so many people who are depressed don't tell people I WANT TO DIE, they seem to live their lives as if they are just moody. I know my when my daughter was a teen and moody and depressed, it wasn't until she got my attention that she was having suicidal thoughts that I was awakened by that. There was absolutely NOTHING, no red flags, etc. to tell me she had those thoughts. Helping her with her depression, buying her things, doing all I could do to make her happy, didn't prepare me for that news. It all had to do with her homosexuality. She was afraid. She was worried abt how I would feel, how her family would accept her, how the world would treat her, etc. It may be easy to say or think you can know what a child/teen is doing and/or thinking, but believe me, having been a teen myself, teens can hide A LOT FROM THEIR FAMILIES. Did Megan's parents state if she was suicidal? I have read so many articles I am confused like Janice stated.

I feel for Megan's family so much. When you have a child who is depressed and possibly suicidal (did they even know that abt Megan?) I mean, we know now her depression led her to commit suicide, but so many people who are depressed don't tell people I WANT TO DIE, they seem to live their lives as if they are just moody. I know my when my daughter was a teen and moody and depressed, it wasn't until she got my attention that she was having suicidal thoughts that I was awakened by that. There was absolutely NOTHING, no red flags, etc. to tell me she had those thoughts. Helping her with her depression, buying her things, doing all I could do to make her happy, didn't prepare me for that news. It all had to do with her homosexuality. She was afraid. She was worried abt how I would feel, how her family would accept her, how the world would treat her, etc. It may be easy to say or think you can know what a child/teen is doing and/or thinking, but believe me, having been a teen myself, teens can hide A LOT FROM THEIR FAMILIES. Did Megan's parents state if she was suicidal? I have read so many articles I am confused like Janice stated.
I'm surprised your daughter felt that way, given how accepting and open-minded you are, Irene. My brother didn't come out until he was 25, so he really struggled internally for way too long. Once he came out, I wanted to push him back in though, lol. He not only came out of the closet, he broke the doors down, lol. He was queen for a day in no time.
:king: He acted like Jack McFarland for about five years. Now, if you didn't know he was gay, you couldn't tell. I don't care anyway. He could wear a ballet getup for all I care. :lol:
There might be some answers to the link I posted, as the Meiers are interviewed.

I'm surprised your daughter felt that way, given how accepting and open-minded you are, Irene. My brother didn't come out until he was 25, so he really struggled internally for way too long. Once he came out, I wanted to push him back in though, lol. He not only came out of the closet, he broke the doors down, lol. He was queen for a day in no time.
:king: He acted like Jack McFarland for about five years. Now, if you didn't know he was gay, you couldn't tell. I don't care anyway. He could wear a ballet getup for all I care. :lol:
There might be some answers to the link I posted, as the Meiers are interviewed.
Exactly. That is what shocked me. I had never given any indication that I would not accept her. When she finally told me I said to her, "And? that's it?" :lol: I hugged her and told her she never has to fear telling me anything. I am open-minded and it goes to show that kids can be fearful, no matter the situation or issue. Now, she shouts it from the rooftops. :lol:

You and I share a common link regarding our loved ones. ;) Thank God they have us for family. :D Your story is so funny. Thank you for sharing that. That gave me a good laugh. I really needed it. :lol: ;)

looks like the scumbags are getting their comeuppance even if the cops won't do anything about it


http://news.aol.com/story/_a/town-shuns-family-over-hoax-suicide/20071207071409990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Town Shuns Family Over Hoax, Suicide
By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD,AP
Posted: 2007-12-07 11:07:56
Filed Under: Nation News
DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo. (Dec. 6) - 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.


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Thank you for posting that John. I seen that this morning and was going to post it myself.

Yes indeed, it seems the Drews are being "asked" to leave by sundown. :lol:

What a mess. Justified or not, I can't say I'm comfortable with the neighbors harassing them like that.

I just keep thinking, what if I was in that position. Or worse, what if I was caught in the middle.

Moreover, it's simply very, very dangerous behavior. Potentially barbaric.

I feel sorry for the innocent neighbors who are being caught in the crossfire and really don't want the attention, but I don't feel sorry at all for the Drew family. They got what's coming to them

agreed. when you drive a 13-year-old girl to suicide, you shouldn't be surprised when your entire neighborhood starts to hate you.

What a mess. Justified or not, I can't say I'm comfortable with the neighbors harassing them like that.

I just keep thinking, what if I was in that position. Or worse, what if I was caught in the middle.

Moreover, it's simply very, very dangerous behavior. Potentially barbaric.

I agree, and what about her husband. As far as I know he hasn't done anything in this ordeal.

Ok...that clears a few things up, the Josh thing was the Drews idea , but, the nasty messages were from their co-plotter, the mysterious "18 year old"....... either way, they are all guilty of an online harrassment conspiracy, and, as far as i'm concerned, share the blame and should be prosecuted for it.....in the meantime, the Drews would do well to move to China or something! yikes! (Its amazing that even the "18 year old" hasnt been charged, of course, she was doing what the Drews asked her to....and she went too far)

looks like the scumbags are getting their comeuppance even if the cops won't do anything about it


http://news.aol.com/story/_a/town-shuns-family-over-hoax-suicide/20071207071409990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

I read this article in today's "USA Today".

Ok...that clears a few things up, the Josh thing was the Drews idea , but, the nasty messages were from their co-plotter, the mysterious "18 year old"....... either way, they are all guilty of an online harrassment conspiracy, and, as far as i'm concerned, share the blame and should be prosecuted for it.....in the meantime, the Drews would do well to move to China or something! yikes! (Its amazing that even the "18 year old" hasnt been charged, of course, she was doing what the Drews asked her to....and she went too far)
:yeahthat:

Just as Megan's parents should have been watching their daughter's actions on the computer, the Drews should be held accountable for allowing a "strange 18 year old adult" who was in their home using their computer and conspiring with their teen daughter, whom they were only protecting from the evildoers (another teen) who was saying "nasty things" abt their daughter. My God, bring out the noose and hang those for even thinking nasty thoughts abt the Drew's daughter. She is a princess, she is special, no one should ever say such things. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: But it is ok for other teens, including the Drew's daughter to call Megan FAT, UGLY, RUDE, MEAN, STUPID, ETC. ETC. ETC. Hey teens, if you do or say something to someone, don't be surprised when it comes back and bites you in the ass.

I think Lori Drew and the 18-year old, Ashley, should be held accountable. Even though Lori claims she knew nothing about the mean messages made on the final day, she knew about the fake account with the nice messages. Megan's parents have to live with this themselves. Don't think for a minute that they're not dying with guilt over this. I know I would be. Two mothers, one a total creep, the other, neglectful. Megan had a fight with her mother just before the suicide. I can't imagine my last words with a loved one being spoken in anger.

There were nasty messages going back and forth between Megan and Ashley. Lori claims she didn't know about it. Who knows, the cops are convinced it happened the way Lori claimed, and Ashely's not saying otherwise. I think if there's a civil action, the full truth will come out.

looks like the scumbags are getting their comeuppance even if the cops won't do anything about it


http://news.aol.com/story/_a/town-shuns-family-over-hoax-suicide/20071207071409990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
i'm confused, didn't most prior articles state that it was lori who sent the nasty messages? why is the story changing?
she's still a disgusting bitch anyway.

here's a note about the candlelight vigil that tina posted as a blog on the memorial myspace page.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Candlelight Vigil for Megan (Nov. 24, 2007)


CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN MEMORY OF MEGAN TAYLOR MEIER

THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007 AT 6:00 PM

THIS IS MEGAN'S MOM TINA MEIER, AND I WANTED TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE DETAILS FOR THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007

WHERE:


*WE ARE MEETING AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE FORT ZUMWALT WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING LOT. THE ADDRESS IS: 150 Waterford Crossing, O'Fallon, MO 63368


*PLEASE BRING A CANDLE, CUP TO HOLD THE CANDLE AND SOMETHING TO LIGHT THE CANDLE. (IF YOU CUT A SMALL x IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP, YOU CAN SLIDE THE CANDLE THROUGH IT AND THEN YOU WON'T HAVE WAX DRIPPING ON YOU)


*WE WILL THEN LIGHT THE CANDLE'S SHORTLY AFTER 6:00 P.M. AND START WALKING FROM THE SCHOOL DOWN WATERFORD CRYSTAL DRIVE TOWARDS MEGAN'S HOUSE AND END UP IN FRONT OF THE DREW'S HOUSE.


*THERE IS A COMMON GROUND AREA ACROSS THE STREET AND WE WILL HAVE PA SYSTEM AND MICROPHONE. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, READ A POEM, ETC., THEY ARE MORE THAN WELCOME.


*THIS WONDERFUL IDEA CAME FROM STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO SEE JUSTICE FOR MEGAN AND FOR THAT WE ARE SO HAPPY. NOTHING WE CAN DO WILL BRING MEGAN BACK, BUT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM MEGAN AND TAKE A PART OF HER WITH US EVERYDAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES TO TRY TO BE A BETTER PERSON AND THINK ABOUT THINGS WE SAY TO PEOPLE BEFORE WE SAY THEM!


*****REMEMBER THIS IS A PEACEFUL CANDLELIGHT*****

VIGIL AND WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE!


HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE TO HELP REMEMBER THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE OF MEGAN MEIER!

i'm confused, didn't most prior articles state that it was lori who sent the nasty messages? why is the story changing?
she's still a disgusting bitch anyway.
She certainly is. The picture is becoming clearer now. From what I'm reading, Lori knew that the fake MySpace account was being created. They all claim that Lori agreed, but told them to post only nice messages, to find out what Megan was saying about her daughter. The messages were nice until one night, and the following day, when Ashley posted the nasty stuff. Lori is most definitely a dirtbag for allowing a fake account, but it's not as stated in the initial reports, that Lori was sending the nasty messages. Lori wasn't home when they were sent.

It was very irresponsible and cruel on Lori's part. Personally, I'm not one for people taking the law into their own hands. It's not the society I want to live in. Tina Meier is putting all of the blame on Lori, and I think there's some projection going on there. Any mother knows in her heart, that allowing your emotionally troubled 13-year old daughter to chat with a 16-year old male stranger is irresponsible. My stepson, who has a 13-year old daughter, said that they should throw both mothers in jail. He was half joking, but he's disgusted with the lack of supervision. In THIS day and age, with the nuts on the internet, I'll never understand it.

I know for the east coast people it is too late, but 20/20 is right now airing a segment on this topic.

OMG that is so sad. The parents of Megan, it is tearing my heart. They look so drained, so tired, so sad. They didn't deserve this.

I went to a funeral of a young girl who killed herself in May. The look on the parents' faces will remain with me forever. I see that same look on Megan's parents' faces. That should never happen. Megan's mother said when she saw the happiness in her daughter, how the messages Megan's mother viewed on Myspace seemed so uplifting to her daughter, how this boy was complimenting Megan, etc.

OMG that is so sad. The parents of Megan, it is tearing my heart. They look so drained, so tired, so sad. They didn't deserve this.

I went to a funeral of a young girl who killed herself in May. The look on the parents' faces will remain with me forever. I see that same look on Megan's parents' faces. That should never happen. Megan's mother said when she saw the happiness in her daughter, how the messages Megan's mother viewed on Myspace seemed so uplifting to her daughter, how this boy was complimenting Megan, etc.
Of course Megan's parents didn't deserve this, but they could have prevented it, by monitoring their daughter's online activities. Has Tina ever heard of being duped on the internet? Who in their right mind allows their disturbed young daughter to get into that? My parents would have locked me up if I even thought of dating a 16-year old when I was 13. I have sympathy for the Meiers, but they share the blame. If your child needs compliments on the internet to bring them happiness, alarms should be going off.

It's like allowing your young kid out late at night, and the kid gets murdered. The parents deserve sympathy, but blame for not keeping their child out of harm's way. Megan's parents dropped the ball from protecting her from evil on the internet.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316049,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316049,00.html)

Raw Data: Drew Family Statement on MySpace Suicide

On Friday, attorney Jim Briscoe issued the following statement from the Drew family regarding the events surrounding Megan Meier's death:

"This week, Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas issued his report concerning the death of Megan Meier. His investigation included a review of all reports of law enforcement agencies involved with this case and interviews with several of the individuals involved.

"During this investigation, the Drew family has not commented to the media. Now that the investigation is concluded, we wish to issue this statement.

"First and foremost, the Drew family mourns the death of Megan every day. They previously expressed their sympathies to the Meier family, but the Meiers have made it clear that they do not wish to speak to the Drews, and they have honored the Meier’s request.

"Contrary to statements reported in various news media around the nation in recent weeks, Lori Drew did not create or direct anyone to create the Josh Evans MySpace account.

"Although she was aware of the account, Lori Drew never sent any messages to Megan or to anyone else using this MySpace account.

"The MySpace account was in place for approximately 29 days. It is undisputed that all messages sent were positive until the last 24 hours.

"Lori Drew was not aware of any mean, nasty or negative comments made by anyone against Megan until after Megan took her own life. In fact, the first negative message was sent by a teenager from another residence, and several other negative comments were made by other teenagers at different locations. The negative comments that were sent by the teenage girl at the Drew’s residence occurred when Lori was not home.

"Lori Drew has been a high-profile target of extreme criticism for things she did not do. This has caused considerable damage to the reputation of the Drew family, both in our community and across the nation.

"The avalanche of criticism forced Lori to discontinue the advertising business she has had in the St. Charles County area for the past nine years. Lori is saddened that businesses that advertised with her company have been harassed in ways that have impacted them both professionally and personally.

"The Drew family is also sorry that their family, friends and neighbors have had to endure the stresses associated with the harassment directed toward the Drews.

"There are many accusations that various members of the Drew family have created Web sites or are participating in Internet blogs regarding this matter. The Drews have not and will not participate in any Website or blog regarding this matter.

"Any Internet message that purports to be a member of the Drew family is being managed by an imposter and undoubtedly is being done for the purpose of further damaging the Drew’s reputation."

"Contrary to statements reported in various news media around the nation in recent weeks, Lori Drew did not create or direct anyone to create the Josh Evans MySpace account.

"Although she was aware of the account, Lori Drew never sent any messages to Megan or to anyone else using this MySpace account.

wow, this just gets more confusing. even if she wasn't the one who sent the mean messages, she did originally state that she created and used the account to communicate with megan, didn't she?

wow, this just gets more confusing. even if she wasn't the one who sent the mean messages, she did originally state that she created and used the account to communicate with megan, didn't she?
I don't think there's been any confusion about Lori's role in this. She admitted from the start that she knew about it all along. She maintains that she knew nothing about the nasty turn it took that final day, which is ridiculous because it was nasty from day one, even with the nice messages. I think what's news to me is that Lori didn't send any messages herself. When this story first broke, I either read it wrong or something because I thought that Lori sent those final nasty messages.

I really think we'll learn more when there's a civil trial. The police closed the investigation on this part of it. I think Lori was DEAD WRONG for her role in this. Nobody will get an argument out of me there. As I've stated, bullying is one of the most evil things going. With that said, I just wish Megan's parents had monitored her activities more closely. That's a parent's duty. It even took a sexual turn, which proves that Megan wasn't being monitored. Lori = evil. The Meiers = neglectful. I don't need backup for my opinions, but I'm not alone in my thinking. The AOL reader comments assign blame for Megan's parents, left and right.

the weird thing is her parents actually sound pretty protective of her...they checked her Myspace account all the time and even deleted it at one point. the thing is 13 and 16 isn't that big of an age gap for friendship...especially online. i guess they just assumed that Megan and "Josh" were casual friends or something, or maybe they only checked certain aspects of her myspace (like maybe they only checked her profile and not bullitens/messages). the whole story is kinda confusing.

I feel sorry for the innocent neighbors who are being caught in the crossfire and really don't want the attention, but I don't feel sorry at all for the Drew family. They got what's coming to them

It's been a while since I weighed in on this, but yes, what goes around comes around. Decent people are outraged, as well they should. And now the Drew's are getting a taste of the wrath so richly deserved. And they probably haven't even expereinced the worst of it. When you do something so despicable--so egregiously indecent--your community (and society) responds and ostracizes you. They are basically saying the Drews are not fit to live in civilized society.

Unfortunately, laws can never seem to keep up with the level of evil, technology and the sociopathic ingenuity often involved. But thank God, we seem to learn and catch up--and I'm hoping that happens here. Examples of where the law was caught by surprise but caught up are Meghan's Law and Stephanie's Law.

The story is definitely confusing. I hear one thing, read another and then see articles in magazines, it just makes my head go :crazy:

It took a while before I even realized that Megan's family knew a few weeks after her death that the Drew family were somehow the ones responsible as far as where the messages were coming from, but the FBI told the Meiers to not reveal this information and that is why we are only hearing abt it now even though Megan killed herself a year ago.