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 6 of 6)
76. How dare anyone blame Megan or her parents for this tragedy. Does this remind anyone of the "Texas Cheerleader Mom Syndrome"? You're not going to beat my child at anything and I will make sure that doesn't happen. There isn't a parent out there that doesn't want their child to be the best, the popular one and protect them from anything negative. Unfortunately weak minded parents with no self-esteem will live vicariously through their children and as a result act like one. How obvious, those DISGUSTING PIGS-known to the world as the Drew's-had nothing going for them so they bullied and preyed on a teenage girl while hiding behind a computer. What a bunch of sissys. That's what hobbies are for, why not try basket weaving Drew family, you and your kids in a mental institution better still, state pen or death row. Kudos to the neighbors for letting those disgusting pigs know where they stand in the world...I don't know about you, but I think the world would be a better off place without the Drew's and the only appropriate thing for them to do would be to fall off the face of the earth.
suninstl at 9:30AM on Dec 5th 2007
77. It was evil what the Drews did they had no right to play with a teenage girls heart but GOD is watching every move we make and we do not leave this world without paying for our mistakes.
Selena at 9:41AM on Dec 5th 2007
78. After looking further and further into this story it just gets more and more disturbing. Lori Drew is a sad example of a human being and an even worse example of a mother. I think it is fitting that she should have posed so convincingly as a teenager since she obviously hasn't matured an ounce she she was a teen. I don't feel the least bit sorry that she was 'outed' by the media, especially after reading the blog that she created. http://meganhaditcoming.blogspot.com/
J at 10:22AM on Dec 5th 2007
79. This in response to Ivy,
Number 1 I am a parent of 3 children 2 teens and 1 preteen, I have seen the affects of myspace with my teens, My children had pages on Myspace a couple of years back, before I found out about the media hype of it, I shut it down when I did find out, then one of my daughters so called friends set up another account using her profile, I found out through another parent and contacted the other girls parents and from my understanding people make up pages and pretend to be other people all the time, to do what? TO DECEIVE THEM THAT’S WHAT!!! So to protect mine from cruel pranks people pull, this is one thing I will not allow them to have while they are under age and living under my roof!!! Now if me wanting to protect my children from this is a cause for you to say I shouldn't have any children then, you are sick and maybe you shouldn’t have children! That’s just like me allowing my daughter to dress like a hooker every day and walk down the street, this is a free country and you should be able to dress as you please, but we have all kinds of sick people out there, who would snatch her up and rape her at first chance, Like I said before it is called Loving and Protecting them as MUCH as humanly possible!!!!
Yes, Megan suffered from depression, but is that a reason to allow your children to do things that my be harmful to them especially in her state, I know Megan parents loved her and I wouldn’t dare say they didn’t but we as parents need to stop trying to be our children’s friends and stop being afraid of our children and step up and take more action and responsibility for them and what they do! Yes she could have been out there getting pregnant but just think about all the boys and girls that meet strangers on myspace and the horrible things have happened to them.
For goodness sake the cops even set up phony profiles to catch all the sick people that set up pages to lower children in to their grasp.
Umm at 1:17PM on Dec 5th 2007
80. This whole story is just sickening. Unlike some, I don't believe that her parents are to blame~~it's always easier to point fingers when it's not your child in question. This poor girl was 13~~anyone remember what that's like?! And then to add on top of that the fact that she already had some problems, wow. The Drew's, who are ADULTS (at least in age), however, knew this girl's weaknesses and prayed upon them. I don't understand what kind of sick, perverse pleasure you get out of tormenting a troubled child but to tell that girl (pretending to be her boyfriend) "the world would be a better place without you" is just reprehensible. I agree that the Drew's should be held responsible for their actions. If someone can be sent to jail for having too many unpaid parking tickets, why the heck can't we find something to charge these horrible people with?!
Diana at 1:36AM on Dec 6th 2007
81. Holy lord.
Look. If you watch "Animal cops Houston/Ny/Detroit/Whatever", you know that people can be arrested and fined and jailed for basic cruelty to animals. Why is it, then, that in light of the vicious acts they committed, we can't find SOMETHING to hold the Drews responsible with?
Emotional cruelty is often as bad or worse than physical cruelty. If it had been her own parents gaslighting their kid like this, they would be held responsible by the law.
A 13 year old kid is insecure. Period. Those of you who say "she was screwed up to begin with" are not remembering your own teenage years. It's only recent that kids have had names slapped on their growing pains like "depression" and "adhd". She sounds like a normal kid responding to the burdens of not conforming to huge societal pressure to be perfect.
The Drews have maturity problems, in the extreme. Their own daughter needs to be removed from their influence and taught some basic right-from-wrong.
I hope the lot of them are suffering some remorse. And I hope that someone does for their kid what they obviously will not be able to do - help her to grow up to be a human being.
Lionruby at 9:28AM on Dec 6th 2007
82. These "neighbors" need help! They pose as a 13 year old boy to torment a child once. Then they pose as the same kid a second time. They even attend the girl's funeral, then run away from home.
They need help from Dick Cheney's shot gun!
DENNIS I. at 1:32PM on Dec 6th 2007
83. Those of you who blame Megan's parents are astoundingly cruel and exhibit about as much insight as the Drews!
There are many, many teens and young adults who are vulnerable to depression and experience suicidal ideation and attempts. It is the job of adults to be sensitive to a vulnerable child's needs, not to push them over the edge, as Mrs. Drew did.
Those of you who are so critical of the parents seem to exhibit a smugness about your lack of vulnerability to such experiences. Life may teach you otherwise.
Depression is a mental illness that is highly treatable. It often takes a period of trying various medications to be treated successfully though, and usually responds best to a combination of therapy and prescribed medications.
My heart goes out to this family. I have lost four family members to premature deaths due to mental illness. It is heartbreaking. I can't imagine losing a child under such circumstances.
Bartos at 1:18AM on Dec 7th 2007
84. the girl was stupid to let dumb internet crap get to her.
The woman was stupid because she let herself get caught.
mystery mink at 4:17PM on Dec 7th 2007
85. This whole thing is so ridiculous and horrible. I'm a teen and I have a myspace.
I honestly have no personal information about me at all whatsoever on there besides my first name. my account, i set to private as well. I think all the parents of Megan should've been more aware and involved in her feelings, as well as being aware that myspace isnt the safest site, and I myself know that, thats why I even show my parents it so they approve, if they want, i let them check my message sbecause I have nothing to hide. The adults who made the fake account are EXTREMELY immature! I can't even imagine a teen my age do something that ignorant! The drama is between their daughter & Megan so they should've let the girls settle their situations between eachother THEMSELVES. Isn't that the part of growing up? Well, sadly for Megan she won't ever be able to do that because of some ridiculous, immature, adults. I am so OUTRAGED by this whole thing I can't believe how something like this could happen, & on top of it those people were not charged with ANYTHING. I just cannot believe it.
kaydeex9 at 11:02PM on Dec 7th 2007
86. I can't believe how many idiots there are that are blaming Megan and/or her parents when all the blame should sit squarely on the Drew's shoulders. School bullies are bad enough, but you always hope they grow out of it. Now we know they don't, they just go online and pretend to be a teenager to continue getting a cheap thrill. The fact that they were "friends" of the family makes it all the worse - they knew she had problems and did it anyway. They certainly knew where to aim the killing blow. How about "inciting to suicide" as a charge. If they can put "Dr. Death" in prison for assisting suicide in terminally ill people then they should be able to get justice for Megan and her family. You have to feel sorry for the Drew"s kids - what kind of of parents would condone such behavior, much less engage in it themselves. My heart goes out to Megan's family. I pray they find peace and justice.
Connie at 4:08AM on Dec 17th 2007