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In October of 2006, 13 year old Megan Meier hung herself in her own closet. She was just one month shy of turning fourteen. Her parents described her as a “bubbly” and “goofy” girl.

Despite being a beautiful young lady, Megan often felt overweight. She also suffered from attention deficit disorder and depression. A psychiatrist had been treating Megan since the third grade. So, on the surface this appeared to be just another tragic case of a young girl taking her life. Then, a little over a year after Megan hung herself, a story broke in the media linking a MySpace hoax with her death.

Supposedly, Megan had spread gossip about a former friend that lived just four houses away from her. In retaliation, Lori Drew (the mother of the girl), her assistant, and the girl created a faux MySpace account. The account was for a non-existing sixteen year old male named, “Josh Evans.” “Josh” contacted Megan and began an online friendship. The tone of the messages soon changed from positive, flirtatious, and uplifting to negative attacks. Lori Drew, as Josh, posted bulletins, shared private messages, etc.. in an effort to defame and embarrass Megan. Megan told her mother what “Josh” had done, but her mother admits that she was most upset by the foul language Megan had used to respond to “Josh.”

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The last messages taken from Megans‘ computer read: “Everybody in O’Fallon knows how you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you. Have a shitty rest of your life. The world would be a better place without you.” Meier responded to “Josh” with: “You’re the kind of boy a girl would kill herself over.” Megan was found hanging in her room just twenty minutes after the last message was sent.

When the hoax first hit the associated press, Lori Drew claimed it was all just a “joke.” Public outcry pushed prosecutors to come up with something to charge Lori Drew with. She was indicted in May 2008 on three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress and one count of criminal conspiracy. She was found guilty lesser charges of misdemeanors, and the jury was deadlocked on the fourth felony charge of criminal conspiracy. Witnesses clearly testified that Drew intended to use the correspondence with “Josh” to get information about Megan, and then later humiliate her in retribution for her allegedly spreading gossip about her daughter. It was also said that Lori Drew knew of Megans’ battle with depression. The assistant was given immunity in return for her testimony.

Sentencing was supposed to be carried out this month. However, the judge has decided to further postpone the sentencing to July 2, 2009, since he is still weighing whether to sentence or overturn the jury verdict. The maximum sentence that Lori Drew could get is three years prison time and a $300,000 fine. On one hand, I agree that it seems absurd to send someone to federal prison for bullying. On the other, it seems like such a puny sentence is placing very little value on the loss of child.

I think there is blame to be placed all around. Lori Drew, a fifty year old mother, should have known better than to harass and belittle a child. Megans’ parents should have taken a more active role in filtering what their thirteen year old was doing on the internet. MySpace should have something in place to protect those listed on their site as minors. Figuring out just how much of that blame is on Lori Drew is a difficult task for this judge, but I do know that she should be made an example of and serve some time for her actions. Drunk drivers may not set out to kill someone, but very often it is a consequence of driving drunk. Another child should not needlessly die because of the consequences of cyber-bullying.

The United States v. Lori Drew has brought about some positive changes though. It has caused several jurisdictions to update or pass harassment laws to include harassment through computers and mobile phone messaging. Many jurisdictions have also included laws to cover those over 21 years old who are harassing children under 18 years old.