Grace McComas, a 15-year-old Glenelg High School sophomore from Baltimore, whose favorite color was blue took her life on Easter Sunday, to end the pain of a cyberbullying campaign against her.
According to her father, Chris McComas the cyberbullying had lasted for months and was carefully documented by the family. As blue was her favorite color, a social media event — blue4grace — was begun by friends and quickly went viral. The mourners at her funeral wore blue nail polish, blue-striped ties, blue jewelry, and blue dress shirts. - See more at: http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/grace-k-mccomas-1997-2012.html#sthash.PPBq3h9A.dpuf
According to her father, Chris McComas the cyberbullying had lasted for months and was carefully documented by the family. As blue was her favorite color, a social media event — blue4grace — was begun by friends and quickly went viral. The mourners at her funeral wore blue nail polish, blue-striped ties, blue jewelry, and blue dress shirts. - See more at: http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/grace-k-mccomas-1997-2012.html#sthash.PPBq3h9A.dpuf
GRACE MCCOMAS, DIED ???????, AGE 15. Cause: Suicide brought on by cyberbullying. RIP.
She loved swimming, boating, fishing, dogs, rap music and boys. But her life had not always been easy, her mother says.
She was heavy and for years had tried to lose weight. She had attention deficit disorder and battled depression. Back in third grade she had talked about suicide, Tina says, and ever since had seen a therapist. But things were going exceptionally well. She had shed 20 pounds, getting down to 175. She was 5 foot 5½ inches tall. Her name was Megan Meier.
http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/megans-story.html
She was heavy and for years had tried to lose weight. She had attention deficit disorder and battled depression. Back in third grade she had talked about suicide, Tina says, and ever since had seen a therapist. But things were going exceptionally well. She had shed 20 pounds, getting down to 175. She was 5 foot 5½ inches tall. Her name was Megan Meier.
http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/megans-story.html
Megan Meier was cyberbullied until she took her own life. RIP
Rebecca Sedwick:
Florida officials have charged two girls, ages 12 and 14, with felonies for allegedly taunting and bullying another 12-year-old girl until she committed suicide.
Such criminal charges are extremely rare, although the problem of bullying and victimizing other teens is an age-old one.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Tuesday that he made the arrests Monday after one of the two girls posted on Facebook as recently as Saturday that she had bullied the victim, Rebecca Sedwick of Lakeland, Fla., and didn't care that she had died.
Rebecca, who killed herself Sept. 9 by jumping off a cement factory tower, was "terrorized" by as many as 15 girls who picked on her for months through online message boards and texts, according to authorities in Lakeland, Fla. One message said she should "drink bleach and die.''
The online harassment allegedly continued after she transferred to a different school.
Experts who have studied social aggression in teens, including bullying via the Internet, say such harassment is a widespread problem that has gained increased attention in the digital age, when written threats and taunts live indefinitely online.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rebecca-sedwick-case-bullied-girl-and-her-tormentor-both-grew-up-in-disturbing-family-situations-says-sheriff/
Florida officials have charged two girls, ages 12 and 14, with felonies for allegedly taunting and bullying another 12-year-old girl until she committed suicide.
Such criminal charges are extremely rare, although the problem of bullying and victimizing other teens is an age-old one.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Tuesday that he made the arrests Monday after one of the two girls posted on Facebook as recently as Saturday that she had bullied the victim, Rebecca Sedwick of Lakeland, Fla., and didn't care that she had died.
Rebecca, who killed herself Sept. 9 by jumping off a cement factory tower, was "terrorized" by as many as 15 girls who picked on her for months through online message boards and texts, according to authorities in Lakeland, Fla. One message said she should "drink bleach and die.''
The online harassment allegedly continued after she transferred to a different school.
Experts who have studied social aggression in teens, including bullying via the Internet, say such harassment is a widespread problem that has gained increased attention in the digital age, when written threats and taunts live indefinitely online.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rebecca-sedwick-case-bullied-girl-and-her-tormentor-both-grew-up-in-disturbing-family-situations-says-sheriff/
Rebecca Sedwick cause of death was jumping off a cement tower! But the real cause of her death is CYBER BULLYING!! RIP
Jessica (Jesse) Logan, was a petite, blond-haired, blue-eyed Ohio high school senior who committed suicide after sexting a nude photo of herself to her boyfriend. When they broke up, he sent the photo to everyone else at her school. Jesse was cruelly harassed for months by the other girls at her school, who called her a slut and a whore. When Jessie’s grades dropped, she started skipping school and when she did go to school, she would hide in the bathroom to avoid being teased.
Jesse Logan decided to tell her story on a Cincinnati television station. Her purpose was simple: “I just want to make sure no one else will have to go through this again.” The interview was in May 2008. Two months later, on July 3, 2008, Jessie attended the funeral of a boy who committed suicide, then came home and killed herself.
Her mother found her hanging in the closet with Jessie’s cell phone on the floor nearby. - See more at: http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/jessica-logan-1990-2008.html#sthash.1FP0spwo.dpuf
Jesse Logan decided to tell her story on a Cincinnati television station. Her purpose was simple: “I just want to make sure no one else will have to go through this again.” The interview was in May 2008. Two months later, on July 3, 2008, Jessie attended the funeral of a boy who committed suicide, then came home and killed herself.
Her mother found her hanging in the closet with Jessie’s cell phone on the floor nearby. - See more at: http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/jessica-logan-1990-2008.html#sthash.1FP0spwo.dpuf
Jessica Logan was another senseless suicide by CYBER BULLYING!! RIP
Rachael Neblett, a seventeen-year old high school student from Kentucky began receiving threatening emails through her MySpace account, in the summer of 2006. The anonymous emails were of a stalking terroristic nature.
Rachael’s parents brought the emails to the attention of the principal of her high school. As the emails included details of her movements during class and after school, it was obvious that the bully was another student at the school.
In October Rachael received an email stating “I am not going to put you in the hospital, I am going to put you in the morgue." After receiving that email, Rachael did not want to go to school or go out with her friends.
On October 9, shortly after receiving the threatening email, Rachael took her own life.
Peyton, Rachael's older sister writes:
"My little sister committed suicide October 9, 2006. Her name is Rachael Neblett. I am here to tell you a little about her. She was 17 when she died, and the most amazing girl you would ever meet. She was an out-going, loving, and caring person. You would never dream that she would do that to herself. ….She was not just my sister, she was my best friend. .. All I have now is a big, black hole where my heart was. Because my little sister is gone, I won't be able to see her anymore--no more trips to the mall, no more smiles, hugs, late movie nights, nothing. It's gone.”
http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/rachael-neblett.html#sthash.MqTv7Y43.dpuf
Rachael’s parents brought the emails to the attention of the principal of her high school. As the emails included details of her movements during class and after school, it was obvious that the bully was another student at the school.
In October Rachael received an email stating “I am not going to put you in the hospital, I am going to put you in the morgue." After receiving that email, Rachael did not want to go to school or go out with her friends.
On October 9, shortly after receiving the threatening email, Rachael took her own life.
Peyton, Rachael's older sister writes:
"My little sister committed suicide October 9, 2006. Her name is Rachael Neblett. I am here to tell you a little about her. She was 17 when she died, and the most amazing girl you would ever meet. She was an out-going, loving, and caring person. You would never dream that she would do that to herself. ….She was not just my sister, she was my best friend. .. All I have now is a big, black hole where my heart was. Because my little sister is gone, I won't be able to see her anymore--no more trips to the mall, no more smiles, hugs, late movie nights, nothing. It's gone.”
http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/rachael-neblett.html#sthash.MqTv7Y43.dpuf
Rachael Neblett died at age 17 from being CYBERBULLIED! RIP
Kenneth Weishuhn, a gay high school freshman from Paullina, Iowa, took his own life after being bullied by classmates at school and online, and with death threats by phone.
The bullying began with an anti-gay Facebook group, created by Kenneth’s classmates. His mother, Jeannie Chambers, said she knew her son was being harassed, and said that her son told her, "Mom, you don’t know how it feels to be hated."
According to his sister Kayla, the abuse that started after he "came out" was from people he had trusted: “People that were originally his friends, they kind of turned on him. A lot of people, they either joined in or were too scared to say anything.” - See more at: http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/kenneth-weishuhn-jr-1997-2012.html#sthash.SvQ3hYOk.dpuf
The bullying began with an anti-gay Facebook group, created by Kenneth’s classmates. His mother, Jeannie Chambers, said she knew her son was being harassed, and said that her son told her, "Mom, you don’t know how it feels to be hated."
According to his sister Kayla, the abuse that started after he "came out" was from people he had trusted: “People that were originally his friends, they kind of turned on him. A lot of people, they either joined in or were too scared to say anything.” - See more at: http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/kenneth-weishuhn-jr-1997-2012.html#sthash.SvQ3hYOk.dpuf
Kenneth Weishuhn was CYBERBULLIED to death. RIP
Phoebe Prince was a 15-year-old Irish immigrant, a student at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts. Pheobe hanged herself two days before the winter cotillion dance at her school. Pheobe, a newcomer to the school, was a victim of cyberbullying about her date for that dance, a senior football player.
Phoebe was subjected to an onslaught of bullying and was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring, and in person at the school. Even after her death, the girls left vicious messages on a Facebook page -
http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/phoebe-prince.html#sthash.D1ExDUOu.dpuf
Phoebe was subjected to an onslaught of bullying and was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring, and in person at the school. Even after her death, the girls left vicious messages on a Facebook page -
http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/phoebe-prince.html#sthash.D1ExDUOu.dpuf
Phoebe Prince dead at 15 from being cyberbullied. RIP
October 7, 2003 will always be the day that divides my life. Before that day my son Ryan was alive. A sweet, gentle and lanky thirteen year old fumbling his way through early adolescence and trying to establish his place in the often confusing and difficult social world of middle school. After that day my son would be gone forever, a death by suicide. Some would call it bullycide or even cyber bullycide. I just call it a huge hole in my heart that will never heal.
Our son Ryan was a sweet, gentle and very sensitive soul. He was born in Poughkeepsie , NY just a week before Christmas. That Christmas, Ryan was the best present of all. As he grew, his affectionate way made it irresistible to hug him and feel him hug you back. He had the magic ability to bring a smile to anyone that looked his way. As he grew, he developed a wonderful sense of humor too. And when we moved into new neighborhoods twice during his life, kids quickly gravitated to his warmth and friendliness.
But there were early concerns with Ryan’s speech, language and motor skills development as he neared kindergarten. Ryan received special education services from pre-school through the fourth grade. We will always be grateful for the entire staff at Hiawatha Elementary School in Essex Junction for being so wonderful and caring for our son. The special education team there fell in love with him and his drive to do his best every day. By the time he reached the fifth grade, he was assessed to be on grade and no longer needing special education services. But as he became older, he also became more aware that he was not as academically strong as most of his classmates. This began to bother him deeply as he headed into middle school. He had to work much harder at homework, re-reading assignments several times to comprehend the material. He was hard on himself, no matter how much we tried to lessen the academic pressure and focus his awareness of his other strengths. To continue story please visit,
http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/
Our son Ryan was a sweet, gentle and very sensitive soul. He was born in Poughkeepsie , NY just a week before Christmas. That Christmas, Ryan was the best present of all. As he grew, his affectionate way made it irresistible to hug him and feel him hug you back. He had the magic ability to bring a smile to anyone that looked his way. As he grew, he developed a wonderful sense of humor too. And when we moved into new neighborhoods twice during his life, kids quickly gravitated to his warmth and friendliness.
But there were early concerns with Ryan’s speech, language and motor skills development as he neared kindergarten. Ryan received special education services from pre-school through the fourth grade. We will always be grateful for the entire staff at Hiawatha Elementary School in Essex Junction for being so wonderful and caring for our son. The special education team there fell in love with him and his drive to do his best every day. By the time he reached the fifth grade, he was assessed to be on grade and no longer needing special education services. But as he became older, he also became more aware that he was not as academically strong as most of his classmates. This began to bother him deeply as he headed into middle school. He had to work much harder at homework, re-reading assignments several times to comprehend the material. He was hard on himself, no matter how much we tried to lessen the academic pressure and focus his awareness of his other strengths. To continue story please visit,
http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/
Tyler Clementi was a smart, talented
and creative young man. He had a kind heart and bright spirit, and was deeply
loved by his family and friends. He grew up with a passion for music and was an
accomplished violinist. Tyler began playing the violin in the third grade. Tyler
was also an enthusiastic bicyclist and unicyclist. He taught himself to play
the violin while unicycling. He performed in numerous orchestras and was
awarded with several accolades for his musical contributions.
Tyler was gay, and had just begun sharing this part of himself with the people he was close to during the summer after his high school graduation. This was a difficult time for him, but he was brave and honest about who he was. After graduating high school, Tyler attended Rutgers University where he was excited to learn, grow and have the freedom to live openly as a gay man. As an incoming freshman he began playing violin at the institution’s high level orchestra. Only a few weeks into his first semester, Tyler’s musical gifts earned him a seat in an orchestra comprised primarily of upperclassmen and graduate students.
At college Tyler became a victim of cyber-bullying. His privacy was invaded when his college roommate set up a webcam to spy on him. The roommate viewed him in an intimate act, and invited others to view this online. Tyler discovered what his abuser had done and that he was planning a second attempt. Viewing his roommate’s Twitter feed, Tyler learned he had widely become a topic of ridicule in his new social environment. He ended his life several days later by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Tyler was eighteen years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Tyler_Clementi
Tyler was gay, and had just begun sharing this part of himself with the people he was close to during the summer after his high school graduation. This was a difficult time for him, but he was brave and honest about who he was. After graduating high school, Tyler attended Rutgers University where he was excited to learn, grow and have the freedom to live openly as a gay man. As an incoming freshman he began playing violin at the institution’s high level orchestra. Only a few weeks into his first semester, Tyler’s musical gifts earned him a seat in an orchestra comprised primarily of upperclassmen and graduate students.
At college Tyler became a victim of cyber-bullying. His privacy was invaded when his college roommate set up a webcam to spy on him. The roommate viewed him in an intimate act, and invited others to view this online. Tyler discovered what his abuser had done and that he was planning a second attempt. Viewing his roommate’s Twitter feed, Tyler learned he had widely become a topic of ridicule in his new social environment. He ended his life several days later by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Tyler was eighteen years old.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Tyler_Clementi
Viviana Aguirre was a guitarist, a member of the science club, a budding artist who drew pictures for her friends and family, and, like millions of other teenagers, she spent countless hours on Facebook.
But her page full of selfies, photos with friends and laughter took a dark turn the night of Jan. 2 when she posted a short and haunting goodbye to her friends and family before taking her life. The message read: "Before I do this, thank you to all who tried to keep me up. But hey, it didn't work. Bye."
After years of being picked on, the bullying became overwhelming for Viviana, a 14-year old Ysleta High School freshman who had a passion for music and had started to play the guitar and who began receiving messages on Facebook telling her to kill herself, nobody would miss her if she died and that she was worthless.
She could not cope and overcome that, said her cousin, Albert Fernandez. The constant taunting by four girls, whose ages ranged from 14 to 18 years old, pushed her over the edge, Fernandez said.
Minutes after sending her last post, she hanged herself in her Lower Valley home.
"They used to just call her names, but recently, they actually started telling her how she should kill herself," Fernandez said. "They would send her messages and they were some of the meanest messages I've ever read. They told her a few ways how they'd like her to kill herself. They made fun of her, telling her to go cry to her therapist, calling her 'emo' and worthless and that nobody would miss her."
Years of bullying can lead to isolation, a world of depression and loneliness, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness are common effects bullying has on teenagers, the agency said on its website dedicated to stopping bullying.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_24895008/activist-lawmakers-battle-increasing-threat-cyber-bullying
But her page full of selfies, photos with friends and laughter took a dark turn the night of Jan. 2 when she posted a short and haunting goodbye to her friends and family before taking her life. The message read: "Before I do this, thank you to all who tried to keep me up. But hey, it didn't work. Bye."
After years of being picked on, the bullying became overwhelming for Viviana, a 14-year old Ysleta High School freshman who had a passion for music and had started to play the guitar and who began receiving messages on Facebook telling her to kill herself, nobody would miss her if she died and that she was worthless.
She could not cope and overcome that, said her cousin, Albert Fernandez. The constant taunting by four girls, whose ages ranged from 14 to 18 years old, pushed her over the edge, Fernandez said.
Minutes after sending her last post, she hanged herself in her Lower Valley home.
"They used to just call her names, but recently, they actually started telling her how she should kill herself," Fernandez said. "They would send her messages and they were some of the meanest messages I've ever read. They told her a few ways how they'd like her to kill herself. They made fun of her, telling her to go cry to her therapist, calling her 'emo' and worthless and that nobody would miss her."
Years of bullying can lead to isolation, a world of depression and loneliness, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness are common effects bullying has on teenagers, the agency said on its website dedicated to stopping bullying.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_24895008/activist-lawmakers-battle-increasing-threat-cyber-bullying
When Lennell Blackwell saw her 16-year-old daughter's suicide note on Facebook, she knew she had lost a piece of her heart that would never come back again.
Posted just minutes before she attempted to take her own life on Tuesday by jumping off a South Scranton bridge only a short distance from their home, it read:
"If You Got An I Love You, Know That It Means You Meant Something To Me. I'm Sorry I Disappointed You All Especially FAMILY I must Go Now, I Am A Disgrace, Love You All. GOODBYE!"
"Your heart is gone ... a piece of you just leaves," said Ms. Blackwell, 50, in an interview with The Sunday Times. "This could have been prevented. She was being terrorized. I'm really, really angry for this even happening."
Ms. Blackwell and authorities say it may have happened because of social media.
While Ms. Blackwell said her daughter has been the target of severe torment and bullying in and out of school over the past two months by a small group of teenagers, the trigger may have been when the harassment seeped onto the pages of Facebook.
Scranton police are investigating "inappropriate" messages posted on the girl's Facebook page that have been cited as a contributing factor in the attempted suicide on Tuesday at the 30-foot high span over Roaring Brook near the Scranton Iron Furnaces.
The messages were apparently deleted before the police launched their investigation.
The girl, who is suffering from a broken leg and internal bleeding, told Scranton detectives about the posts, and a person of interest has been established in connection with the case.
'Hurting inside'
On Tuesday morning, the teen was getting ready to go to school but backed out at the last minute, complaining of an apparent stomachache, and went to bed.
Later that day, Ms. Blackwell said she saw her daughter run quickly out of the house shortly after seeing what she said were harassing messages and posting a hasty suicide note on Facebook.
"Somebody came knocking on my door and told me she jumped off the bridge," Ms. Blackwell said, with tears in her eyes. "When I got there, it was true. I wish I had seen it coming."
Her daughter remains under care at Community Medical Center in Scranton. She has not been talkative since it happened and has eaten little.
"When I go see her in the hospital I can't think. I'm hurting inside, to see my 16-year-old daughter even think about something like this," Ms. Blackwell said.
Online bullying
She now wants justice to be served for whoever pushed her daughter over the edge. Attorney Bruce Zero, who Ms. Blackwell retained after receiving media requests for interviews and to keep tabs on the criminal investigation, said it is alarming that online bullying is becoming prevalent and leading to teenage suicides and suicide attempts.
"You went home to your family, and you didn't see the bully" before the advent of social media, Mr. Zero said. "This is happening all over the country.
"She made a conscious decision she was going to end her life that day," Mr. Zero added. "As a parent, you sometimes don't see it coming."
Meanwhile, police are awaiting a court order Monday to compel the company that runs the social networking website to release its electronic records in an attempt to identify who posted the material and when.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola has said it can be complicated to identify with certainty that someone wrote a particular message.
"It has to be taken on a case-by-case basis," Mr. Jarbola said. "There's a lot of work trying to make sure that it was the individual who actually did it."
Ms. Blackwell said she wanted to go public because while she is fortunate her daughter survived she wants bullying online or in person to stop today before "it's too late" and someone else's child takes their own life.
"Thank God for me it's not too late," Ms. Blackwell.
Posted just minutes before she attempted to take her own life on Tuesday by jumping off a South Scranton bridge only a short distance from their home, it read:
"If You Got An I Love You, Know That It Means You Meant Something To Me. I'm Sorry I Disappointed You All Especially FAMILY I must Go Now, I Am A Disgrace, Love You All. GOODBYE!"
"Your heart is gone ... a piece of you just leaves," said Ms. Blackwell, 50, in an interview with The Sunday Times. "This could have been prevented. She was being terrorized. I'm really, really angry for this even happening."
Ms. Blackwell and authorities say it may have happened because of social media.
While Ms. Blackwell said her daughter has been the target of severe torment and bullying in and out of school over the past two months by a small group of teenagers, the trigger may have been when the harassment seeped onto the pages of Facebook.
Scranton police are investigating "inappropriate" messages posted on the girl's Facebook page that have been cited as a contributing factor in the attempted suicide on Tuesday at the 30-foot high span over Roaring Brook near the Scranton Iron Furnaces.
The messages were apparently deleted before the police launched their investigation.
The girl, who is suffering from a broken leg and internal bleeding, told Scranton detectives about the posts, and a person of interest has been established in connection with the case.
'Hurting inside'
On Tuesday morning, the teen was getting ready to go to school but backed out at the last minute, complaining of an apparent stomachache, and went to bed.
Later that day, Ms. Blackwell said she saw her daughter run quickly out of the house shortly after seeing what she said were harassing messages and posting a hasty suicide note on Facebook.
"Somebody came knocking on my door and told me she jumped off the bridge," Ms. Blackwell said, with tears in her eyes. "When I got there, it was true. I wish I had seen it coming."
Her daughter remains under care at Community Medical Center in Scranton. She has not been talkative since it happened and has eaten little.
"When I go see her in the hospital I can't think. I'm hurting inside, to see my 16-year-old daughter even think about something like this," Ms. Blackwell said.
Online bullying
She now wants justice to be served for whoever pushed her daughter over the edge. Attorney Bruce Zero, who Ms. Blackwell retained after receiving media requests for interviews and to keep tabs on the criminal investigation, said it is alarming that online bullying is becoming prevalent and leading to teenage suicides and suicide attempts.
"You went home to your family, and you didn't see the bully" before the advent of social media, Mr. Zero said. "This is happening all over the country.
"She made a conscious decision she was going to end her life that day," Mr. Zero added. "As a parent, you sometimes don't see it coming."
Meanwhile, police are awaiting a court order Monday to compel the company that runs the social networking website to release its electronic records in an attempt to identify who posted the material and when.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola has said it can be complicated to identify with certainty that someone wrote a particular message.
"It has to be taken on a case-by-case basis," Mr. Jarbola said. "There's a lot of work trying to make sure that it was the individual who actually did it."
Ms. Blackwell said she wanted to go public because while she is fortunate her daughter survived she wants bullying online or in person to stop today before "it's too late" and someone else's child takes their own life.
"Thank God for me it's not too late," Ms. Blackwell.