9 charged in bullied girl's death

[Ptarmigan]

My daughter told me on the way home from school yesterday that a boy in her school committed suicide over the weekend.  She didn't know him and didn't know why he did it but she was very affected by it.  I came in my room after dinner last night, she was sitting on my bed bawling.  She said she didn't understand why she was so upset since she didn't even know him.  She asked me how someone could be that hopeless at her age to do something like that.  I gave her examples of why a kid could be so desperate but I also stressed that suicide is never the answer.  She is such a good hearted kid, I don't think she could take being bullied like this girl was.  I told her about the girl in this thread, I stressed that I wanted her to come to me if she was being bullied or so troubled that the thought of suicide ever crossed her mind.  I can't imagine what her parents went through after their daughter killed herself.  

Suicide of a kid is pretty serious. It never happened when I was in school, but there have been attempts though. Remember the Megan Meier case?

[Ptarmigan]

Oh geez.  Thanks to you and Sparky for the enlightenment.  I only heard a 2 minute bit on the radio, and I thought that was bad enough.  I would love to have a private meeting with those school officials.  The fact that something like this can happen here, speaks volumes for the PC-apathetic crap we are dealing with everywhere.  Prayers for Phoebe and her family.

I have known of this case since it happened earlier this year. I have been following it.

[BEG]

Suicide of a kid is pretty serious. It never happened when I was in school, but there have been attempts though. Remember the Megan Meier case?

Yeah I remember the Megan Meier case.  It's just so tragic. 

[IassaFTots]

Suicide of a kid is pretty serious. It never happened when I was in school, but there have been attempts though. Remember the Megan Meier case?

I have unfortunately personally experienced suicide many times in my life.  The youngest was 18, then 26, then 52.  Each time it was a devastating loss.  I can't fathom a young one like that.

[BEG]

I have unfortunately personally experienced suicide many times in my life.  The youngest was 18, then 26, then 52.  Each time it was a devastating loss.  I can't fathom a young one like that.

My grandpa's Uncle and his cousin (the uncle's daughter) both committed suicide many years ago.  To this day I don't know why. 

[Ptarmigan]

Yeah I remember the Megan Meier case.  It's just so tragic.  

Agreed. Why would a parent get involved is beyond me. Lori Drew is really hated like Osama bin Laden/September 11 Terrorists, Fred Phelps, and Adolf Hitler. People called Drew a terrorist and likened her to the 19 hijackers. She resembles Fred Phelps in her appearance and deviancy.  

Lori Drew


Fred Phelps

[IassaFTots]

My grandpa's Uncle and his cousin (the uncle's daughter) both committed suicide many years ago.  To this day I don't know why. 

I only know why for the 26 year old.  Bad, bad story, involving mental illness, Iraq, and lots and lots of seroquel.  The others, I know why, only from their notes.

[thundley4]

Her mom and friends tried to help, however the school administration would do nothing.   This story is really tragic from beginning to end.

I hope like hell they can sue the school.

[IassaFTots]

I hope like hell they can sue the school.

You and me both. 

[JohnnyReb]

I just read the GLOBE story...WOW!...this happen in that wonderfully tolerant blue state of the Massive-2 shits minus one.

Good thing the poor little girl from Ireland wasn't in one of those intolerant fundamentalist red states......the mean girls might have gotten the shit stomped out of them.

[IassaFTots]

I just read the GLOBE story...WOW!...this happen in that wonderfully tolerant blue state of the Massive-2 shits minus one.

Good thing the poor little girl from Ireland wasn't in one of those intolerant fundamentalist red states......the mean girls might have gotten the shit stomped out of them.

Well, in the last 3 months, Texas has had two, that I am aware of.  Guess we ain't red any more. 

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/03/bullied-teen-commits-suicide-i.html

[Ptarmigan]

I just read the GLOBE story...WOW!...this happen in that wonderfully tolerant blue state of the Massive-2 shits minus one.

Good thing the poor little girl from Ireland wasn't in one of those intolerant fundamentalist red states......the mean girls might have gotten the shit stomped out of them.

That area has an "Old Boys" mindset. It is not too far from UMass-Amherst, some really leftist college.

[Ptarmigan]

I remember another one in Texas with a 9 year old.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-studentdeath_23met.ART0.State.Edition1.4c0f05b.html

Than there is Megan Meier and Ryan Halligan. Meier was drive to suicide by Lori Drew, a really abhorrent and loathsome person.

[IassaFTots]

I remember another one in Texas with a 9 year old.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-studentdeath_23met.ART0.State.Edition1.4c0f05b.html

Than there is Megan Meier and Ryan Halligan. Meier was drive to suicide by Lori Drew, a really abhorrent and loathsome person.

Absolutely.  But I think we ought to take a look at how children are being raised, and disciplined.  This bullying behavior should not be encouraged, or dismissed.

[Mike220]

There was another one south of Ft. Worth this weekend. 13 year old kid hung himself.

Dallas News

The apparent suicide of an eighth-grader in Johnson County is being linked to bullying.
Joshua

Jon Carmichael, a 13-year-old student in the town of Joshua, was found hanging in his family's barn Sunday, said Linda Anderson, public information officer for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, which is handling the case.

The cause of death has not been determined yet, she said. The office is waiting to receive medical and investigative records before releasing a cause, Anderson said.

[Ptarmigan]

Absolutely.  But I think we ought to take a look at how children are being raised, and disciplined.  This bullying behavior should not be encouraged, or dismissed.

Agreed. Some evil figures in history were bullies.
Adolf Hitler
Joseph Stalin
Saddam Hussein
Nero
Caligula
Osama bin Laden
George Hennard
Eric Harris/Dylan Klebold

In regards to Meier, it was a mother who did it because she was envious and paranoid.

[IassaFTots]

Yeah Mike, I posted to that earlier.  And Ptarmy....  I haven't researched all of the people on your list, so I am stepping out on the limb of speculation here, but it seems to me that some were bullied, and then grew up to be bullies.  I was bullied big time as a child, in fact I was duct taped to a freaking tree in front of high school.  I know bullies.  What I am trying to say is that regardless of what has happened in the past, what is happening now, today, in the schools of here and now, there seems to be much more violent bullying going on.  Now, it may very well be that we are just hearing more of it, thanks to the wonders of the innernets, but I do wonder, if it might have to do with the lack of engagement that occurs in a lot of family situations....not everyone, but the rest of everyone. 

I would love for some parents to chime in here, to share.  I don't have any my own, so I am just speculating.

Again, I am referencing children as bullies, whose actions cause other children to cause harm to themselves, up to, and including suicide.  I already know that grown-ups can be hateful. 

[littlelamb]

After this my 13 year old's school has started what they call a No Bully Zone if any child is caught being a bully or turned in for being a bully no question's asked the child is expelled.

[Hawkgirl]

I had the unfortunate experience of being bullied in the 5th and 6th grade...as I was the new kid.  No physical harm, just name-calling.  I eventually got tired of it, so I told a teacher.  Well, the "bully" got bullied by the teacher...she even grabbed him by his shirt and nearly slammed him into the corridor (this was a catholic school, and roughhousing was allowed). It stopped after that, and he always went out of his way to be nice to me.  Unfortunately, teachers can't do that nowadays.

[Ptarmigan]

Yeah Mike, I posted to that earlier.  And Ptarmy....  I haven't researched all of the people on your list, so I am stepping out on the limb of speculation here, but it seems to me that some were bullied, and then grew up to be bullies.  I was bullied big time as a child, in fact I was duct taped to a freaking tree in front of high school.  I know bullies.  What I am trying to say is that regardless of what has happened in the past, what is happening now, today, in the schools of here and now, there seems to be much more violent bullying going on.  Now, it may very well be that we are just hearing more of it, thanks to the wonders of the innernets, but I do wonder, if it might have to do with the lack of engagement that occurs in a lot of family situations....not everyone, but the rest of everyone.  

I would love for some parents to chime in here, to share.  I don't have any my own, so I am just speculating.

Again, I am referencing children as bullies, whose actions cause other children to cause harm to themselves, up to, and including suicide.  I already know that grown-ups can be hateful.  

On that topic, yes, they were all bullied to some degree, in the form of being beaten by their parents all the time. When you think about it, bullies were bullied themselves. Hitler was bullied by his father in the form of constant beatings. As for Harris and Klebold being bullied that was proven to be false.

Adolf Hitler
http://www.adolfhitler.dk/paula/Default.htm

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Slate-The Depressive and the Psychopath
http://www.slate.com/id/2099203/

Letters On Pages-Columbine by Dave Cullen
http://www.lettersonpages.com/2009/04/columbine-by-dave-cullen/

Campus Safety-Interview With ‘Columbine’ Author Dave Cullen
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Articles/?ArticleID=301

I think we are hearing more about it simply due to more awareness. Another thing is the break down of families. Many bullies do come from dysfunctional families. Not all. Some come from stable two parent families.

That has to suck that you got duct taped to the tree. I heard something like that happened when I was in high school during homecoming were students wrap the school with toilet paper, which is a tradition.

[longview]

One of my daughters was bullied pretty badly.

In the first instance, when I brought a complaint to the board I was asked if I wanted to press charges.  I told the board and the thug's parents that no, at his age he would only get a slap on the wrist.  I wanted him to think he got away with something, then become an adult and pull the same crap.  Then his parents would lose part of their ranch having to pay for his defense.  It happened his second year of college and they did have to sell a nice portion with water on it to rescue "precious pup."

The second time, same district, daughter was getting no help from teachers and the bullying was happening in class.  I advised her to smash a computer monitor or tower on the floor and then call me.  She did it once.  I told them that would happen everytime she was allowed to be bullied.  It stopped.  

[mamacags]

Not to take anything away from this topic or death, but, who hasn't been bullied at one point or another.  Seriously even the biggest bully in school has most likely been bullied by someone else at some time.  I sometimes think that the media or parents like to blame bullying when there could be much bigger factors behind it.  Everyone wants to have a reason to say "Look that is exactly why they killed themself!"  That isn't always the case.

I knew a boy once, he was so incredibly funny and cute.  I was a new mom and he was playing with my baby girl.  I just loved that guy, everyone loved him.  One night he went and laid down on railroad tracks and was killed by a train.  Everyone who knew him couldn't believe that this wonderful guy would do something like that.  I don't think anyone ever knew why he did it either.  Suicide sucks and it is a selfish act.

[IassaFTots]

That has to suck that you got duct taped to the tree. I heard something like that happened when I was in high school during homecoming were students wrap the school with toilet paper, which is a tradition.

I wasn't the only one that day, I was a sophomore, just starting HS.  Several of my buddies did as well.  The seniors did it as some juvenile prank.  The principal suspended the ones who did it, and called their parents, and then pulled all of us tape victims into his office, I think there were 8 or so.  He told us whatever we measly sophs were about that the seniors were so afraid of us, that they taped us to the trees must be pretty darn good.  And that he expected great things of us.  The way he said it, it was like an honor, and all of that embarassment washed right away.  Smart man.  We bought it, hook line and sinker. 

[Ptarmigan]

Superintendent Dr. Gus Sayer blames the victim.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/01/schools_head_defends_response_to_bullying/

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/first-on-camera-interview-with-sayer

[formerlurker]

Not to take anything away from this topic or death, but, who hasn't been bullied at one point or another.  Seriously even the biggest bully in school has most likely been bullied by someone else at some time.  I sometimes think that the media or parents like to blame bullying when there could be much bigger factors behind it.  Everyone wants to have a reason to say "Look that is exactly why they killed themself!"  That isn't always the case.

I knew a boy once, he was so incredibly funny and cute.  I was a new mom and he was playing with my baby girl.  I just loved that guy, everyone loved him.  One night he went and laid down on railroad tracks and was killed by a train.  Everyone who knew him couldn't believe that this wonderful guy would do something like that.  I don't think anyone ever knew why he did it either.  Suicide sucks and it is a selfish act.

I think that bullying has risen to a whole new level with the addition of texting and social networks online.  It is more akin to stalking -- perpetual torment you just cannot escape from. 

I just can't imagine how hard it had to be for the new girl to handle.