We've been haunted by the Megan Meier story for days now. If you missed it, here's the Strollerderby wrap-up: Megan Meier, a thirteen-year-old girl, met a sixteen-year-old boy named Josh on MySpace. He told her she was pretty and they had an online relationship. Then Josh abruptly told her he didn't want to be her friend anymore because he heard she was mean. He began posting bulletins: Megan is a slut. Megan is fat. Megan, who took medication for depression and ADHD, went upstairs to her room and hung herself. She died the next day.
Six weeks after Megan died, her parents learned that Josh was not a real person--he was created by the parents of a girl who lived down the street, a girl who had once been Megan's friend.
There are so many more awful details, many found in this St. Charles Journal article:
- Megan had been overweight and even though she'd slimmed down and started to feel pretty, but she was still deeply insecure and clinically depressed.
- When the Meiers found out "Josh" was in fact a fake profile created by their neighbors, Curt and Lori Drew, they took the foosball table they'd been storing for the couple in their garage, hacked it to bits, and left it on the Drews' lawn.
- Mrs. Meier was cooking dinner when her daughter hung herself upstairs; she blames herself. The couple is divorcing.
- The Drews are not being tried with any crime.
The most telling part of all this to us is that the Meiers did everything they were supposed to: monitoring their daughter's MySpace usage, prohibiting her from using the computer at times; trying to console her when her "boyfriend" broke up with her. And none of it worked, because just a few doors down were these monsters -- their friends! -- bent on emotionally destroying their vulnerable daughter.
There has to be something to charge the Drews with, right? Alas, it seems like as much as the police and the community would like to bring the law down on them, in this case there's just no such law.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 6)
16. It is absolutely untrue that there is nothing the Drews can be charged with. They could be charged with Intention Infliction of Emotional Pain. It may not be much and would surely not yield the punishment those despicable people deserve, but it would at least be something. I think the Drew's daughter should be taken from them as these people are obviously not fit parents.
Light2utoo at 1:37PM on Dec 4th 2007
17. The fault lies with the parents, why were they medicating her, ADHD is a crock does not exist the drugs make a child easier to handle. And I have yet to meet a 13 year old girl who is not a mental basket case it is called puberty not a mental disorder yet they drugged her for that too. They keep saying it's not your fault hunny here take drugs. Then the girl kills herself and again it can't be the parents fault so lets blame the neighbors. The neighbors did a stupid childish thing but if you listen to the facts witch on the network stations are near impossible to find, the adults involved helped set up the account but knew nothing of the last days of comments until after the fact. No the blame goes directly to the girls parents, and the people now threatening the Drews are 10 times worse than the Drew's and i hope they are prosicuted my the very law this incident inspired
pac779 at 12:39PM on Dec 4th 2007
18. After hearing about this..I would like to know how you go about reporting someone who is making false pages, and it doesn't matter to me if they are family or friends..I know someone who is putting up a page and it's not her..I don't like her lying about who she is and some guy wrote me to ask if that was her and I told him the truth. I can't do anything about her because she is of age but who can I call? Please let me know..thanks!!
Missy at 1:02PM on Dec 4th 2007
19. To Blame Megans parents is disgusting. Just because Megan was on medication does not mean she was "disturbed". It means she was depressed. And clearly her parents did what all the experts say they were supposed to do. The people who did this are disgustng excuses for human beings. They must have such low self esteem that torturing a 13 year old girl is the only way they can feel better about themselves. I hope they have to hide forever. To Megans parents I say I am so sorry this happened to you. You are in my prayers.
Roberta at 1:00PM on Dec 4th 2007
20. If you saw the interview with the Meiers on TV, you can have no doubt that they have some serious problems themselves. Remember, you know nothing of the exchange that took place in the email or the Drew's side of the story. They have judiciously kept this out of the public forum. Amazes me how so many people can have a strong opinion on a subject without all of the facts, based solely on ignorance.
joe at 1:11PM on Dec 4th 2007
21. Meds are fine,in this case nooooo!!!!!1
James F Bell,Jr at 1:29PM on Dec 4th 2007
22. Unfortunately the mother who harrassed Megan has started a blog entitled "Megan had it coming."
I think the title she chose tells her side pretty effectively.
It's understandable that the Meiers would appear to have "serious problems" when interviewed on TV. I would too, if my child were dead. That's not something a person just gets over, in a year. Or two. Or 50.
Ruth B at 1:21PM on Dec 4th 2007
23. There has to be some kind of law that holds the drews responsible for what they did. They did this to her when they knew her condition. This to me is like a premeditated murder, or some sort of manslaughter.
Everyone is always saying "where are the parents" (meaning the drews), heres is a case where this would not be appropate. This is a case where this people should not be allowed to breed!
noel bonvouloir at 1:26PM on Dec 4th 2007
24. I'm so sorry for the loss of Megan. I've cried a lot of tears for this loss, and can only imagine how her parents must feel. The world has been robbed of the beauty this life would have been.
I'd like to remind everyone: being nice takes no more effort than being mean takes. It's just a matter of where we put our effort.
Think Twice-Be Nice.
ANONYMOUS-ONE at 1:43PM on Dec 4th 2007
25. What the Drews did was absolutely reprehensible, they would not have been able to reach the girl emotionally had the parents not allowed thier child MySpace internet access.
Mary at 9:10AM on Dec 4th 2007
____
You think this kind of thing couldn't happen on AOL, or any other ISP?
laineyb at 1:48PM on Dec 4th 2007
26. I hardly blame the girl's parents, I don't think they were at fault, they knew their daughter had a condition and what were they supposed to do? If they hounded her, she might have been more emotional. They did all they could and how were they supposed to know their daughter was having an online relationship? They didn't let it happen, they probably didn't even know, do not blame them, you don't know anything about them so you can't blame them. Something like this has happened to me, I watched this go on. As for the parents who did this, they are sick and I hope they are sentenced to death. I hate them more than I have ever hated anyone. I know I shouldn't be judging them but I have to and I HATE them.
Carleigh Sher at 1:55PM on Dec 4th 2007
27. I would LOVE to see a competent attorney do something about this for Megan's family. (If you as an attorney cannot do this out of the goodness in your heart, at least do it because of the tax deduction you could get for services rendered. There are also victims of crime laws which allow states to compensate crime victims)
I'm absolutely positive there's enough evidence to bring a wrongful-death criminal or civil suit against those responsible. Maybe someone knows how to contact attorney Vincent Bugliosi? He convicted Charles Manson for murder and he didn't actually commit a murder per se. I'm sure he'll understand how to build a case in this issue too.
Each day, each person gets a new opportunity to change those things about their lives that they are unhappy or unsatisfied with. Megan does not have this choice anymore, her life was prematurely stolen from her. (and the tears fall.....)
jimmydo2 at 2:03PM on Dec 4th 2007
28. This is such a tragic thing that has happened. The young girl may have been fragile already and to say that her parents were not getting the help that she needed for her depression we do not know what was being done so nothing can be said about that. What can be said is the Drew's are people that need to be punished and brought to justice. The Drew's and all of them including the friend that they brought in on this need to be brought up on Involuntary Manslaughter charges. They were the direct reason of Megan's death even if they did not mean to cause it. The punishment should be more harsh but in the eyes of the law that is all that they can be brought up on if at all anything. A civil suit of a wrongful death is not just cause. Nothing will bring Megan back but a message needs to be put out there for all to see and hear that this will not be tolerated and you will be punished for such things. I pray for Megan's family to get the justice they deserve for Megan and the closure they so desperately need. For Megan, I am sorry that you endured what you did. I pray that you are at peace now.
Jill at 2:40PM on Dec 4th 2007
29. First of all, anyone who DARES to say it was the girls fault can gladly answer to me. I was a Mental Health Technician in the USAF. I dealt with MANY children with depression problems. It is a chemical imbalance in children that cause this.. along with hormones and everything else at that age it makes it worse. Her parents might of chalked it up to being a teenager or growing up. But, has anyone asked if she was given medication? OBVIOUSLY they knew she had trouble is she was already diagnosed with depression and ADHD. There is only so much you can do. And shame on the Drew's for behaving in such a thoughtless, heartless and childish manor. I don't think they need to be charged but they need to be brought to some kind of justice. And for the person who said... "t was bound to happen" I have a few words for you. Kids don't have the understanding at 13 years old. I am sorry this happened. It breaks my heart. All of my respects to the family and friends of Megan
Megan at 2:13PM on Dec 4th 2007
30. This scares me. It seems like everybody's morale is just going downhill. The combination of a 13 year old being allowed to have a myspace page, a boyfriend, and the boyfriend be from myspace coupled with the psycho behavior of the neighbors down the street-ughhhh I'm just scared where our world is heading. I may be an anomaly, but when I was 13 I had crushes on boys but I didn't ever want a boyfriend (much less off the internet), and my parents wouldn't have let me had one anyway! And I'm not a prude or a goody-goody, I just think that kids are becoming mini adults too soon because of all the sex and violence in the media. I know you're thinking yeah, sure, but I really think kids have become desensitized to it all. I didn't think it was all that serious until I started working at an elementary school and have 3rd grade boys staring at my boobs and ass and saying "suck it" along with all the kids quoting family guy and describing scenes from the SAW movies to eachother! I do watch family guy, but I'm a 22 year old woman and can handle that kind of humor! Anyway, I'm not religious or anything, but I really hope that some sort of miracle will happen to help this world so the people in it can regain their sanity.
Tiff at 2:41PM on Dec 4th 2007