MySpace Victim's Mom Seeks Justice

MySpace Victim's Mom Seeks Justice

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

filed under: family

Tina Meier talks to momlogic.

myspace suicide mom tina meier with photos of megan meier

Last week, a federal judge tentatively threw out the convictions of Missouri mom Lori Drew, who had been charged with fraud in connection with a fake MySpace page targeting her 13-year-old neighbor, Megan Meier. Megan Meier later committed suicide.

Megan's mom, Tina Meier, talks to momlogic about this shocking ruling.

momlogic: When did you find out about the judge's decision, and what was your reaction?

Tina Meier: The decision came down on Thursday, July 2nd. I feel aggravation and disappointment. I truly feel that the message the judge is sending out is a bad one. It's stating that if we as individuals use the Internet and don't read the terms of service, we can still make a false profile, harass someone, impersonate someone, and do whatever we want ... and if something happens, we are not held liable because we didn't read the terms of service. This is a horrible message to be sending sexual predators, husbands, wives, exes, and anyone who wants to cause harm or get revenge on someone else. Now, what I am doing with the Megan Meier Foundation is asking anyone who disagrees with the judge's decision to please contact the judge's court clerk and let him know why you disagree. The judge's decision is not 100% until it's in writing. I am not sure when that will be, so I am asking people to write him as soon as possible. The AP did an article right after the decision and they did an online survey asking how many people agreed with the ruling. Over 90,000 people clicked on the survey and over 89% disagreed. These are people who use the Internet. We need to stand up and protect our children. This is one step towards asking the judge to do something positive and set a precedent.

ML: Where will you go from here?

Tina: I am fighting to let the judge know there are people out there who disagree with his ruling. If he doesn't read the letters or listen, then there is nothing more I can do, but we need to get our voices heard. The jury found Lori Drew guilty, but he threw out the decision and now she goes free. Right now, the decision is still tentative until it's in writing, which is again why I am asking people to write the judge as soon as possible.

I can't let this decision stop the course I am on. I am going to continue to get out there. There are two components. The first is legislative. There is a federal bill out there that has been proposed by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez in California. We need a law that will state if you use the Internet to harm or harass someone, you need to be held accountable -- just like when you drink and drive and kill an innocent family on the road, you need to be held responsible. On the federal level, it will cover everyone, and not just go state by state. The second component is to get into the schools and continue to talk and educate the kids, parents, educators, etc. We need kids to understand the effects this has on others, when they get into arguments or harass each other online. I want to show them real life stories of how people have taken their lives when this could have been prevented.

Do you think the judge's decision should be overruled? Comment below.

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There is no law that teens can’t be on facebook or myspace. Seriously, get your facts straight. So all of you people thinking this is ok, let’s see: None of you remember what it was like to be a teenager, be ridiculed or hated on. Funny, I don’t remember anyone in my class not being harassed at one point or another. Some people are fragile and can’t take it, and some YOUNG people, with no sense of reasoning or reality because they aren’t mature enough to understand anything, commit suicide or go crazy as an act of these types of harassment. The point here, is that an ADULT provoked this! An adult! How sick is this person to think it’s ok to do this? It really sucks that this girl committed suicide, but the even if she didn’t, an adult when on a website and screwed with a child’s life. She should at least be put in a mental institution with her children taken away, because she obviously too mentally screwed up to raise a child.

- Lissa

Posted 07/07/09 02:22 PM

No one commits suicide over harassment on a myspace. It’s a combination of factors. Every one has been harassed at one point of their life but ultimately the responsibility of reacting to that harassment lies not with the harasser but the harassed. To blame this woman, regardless of her childish and malice behavior, would be like arresting one person in an elevator of twenty people for exceeding the weight limit. If that’s the case, arrest anyone who called her fat or ugly and put them on trial too.

- jacob

Posted 07/07/09 02:22 PM

what kind mother does this? Please post the judges info - I will write….

- michele

Posted 07/07/09 02:22 PM

It is terrible the judge threw out the decision. How? Why!? My heart breaks for the mother who lost her little girl- truely sad and unjust.

- TV

Posted 07/07/09 02:22 PM

I thought the mother that posed and sent the mail that resulted in the death of a 13 year old, should have been sent to prison for at least 10 years. The judge that says her conviction should be overturned needs to serve time with her. If we don’t stop these bullies in our society we will be over run with them. The mother and the Judge are supposed to be adults.

- HJ

Posted 07/07/09 02:23 PM

I really feel that Lori should have some kind of sentence, she was connected with the MySpace, and if it’s only a short amount of time, that’s something. I don’t think the judge was very good either, if somebody dies, mostlikely because of another, something has to be done. Also, I really feel for TIna and the rest of Megan’s family. Even though she did have a MySpace in the first place, a lot of kids do, it’s no secret. They know what they’re doing, and should set their profiles on Private, at the least. I think that Lori is the one at fault when it comes down to it though- It doesn’t matter what happened (It does, just not with this point I’m making) but the reason why she made a MySpace in the first place, the idea.

- Kelly

Posted 07/07/09 02:23 PM

I’m of two minds on this one. I certainly agree that Lori Drew’s actions were despicable, and in no way excusable. I don’t know what sort of sick person would take pleasure in what she did. And of course, the story is very upsetting and I feel for Megan’s family. However, it was a suicide; and if Megan’s family did not have enough foresight to realize something was seriously wrong with her and pose a necessary intervention, then I see no reason for the judge to hold criminal charges against Ms. Drew. Was it sick? Yes. Was it legally punishable? I don’t think so. It’s an unfortunate case, but I can’t see a teenager committing suicide without wondering where the hell her parents were, and why she was allowed to sink so far into depression.

- Madeleine

Posted 07/07/09 02:24 PM

I am not at all surprised at the # who want to blame the parents of the girl who was mislead and committed suicide. Just because this type of thing has been done does not make it Ok. The adult did a terrible thing and now an individual is dead. When is our society going to put a stop to bullying . Our judges need to hear those of us who feel an example might keep this from happening again. Do you or did you cause mental anguish this year? Anna

- anna

Posted 07/07/09 02:25 PM

Does this judge not have children? What kind of person is he that he would throw out any charges to be given to this sick woman? You can’t blame Meagan’s mom because how many of us parents don’t always know what our children do. You cannot say, any of you, that you know what your child does 24/7. You are not there. You are not there when they are with their friends or in school. The problem is we can’t protect our children all the time, but someone somewhere has to put a stop to allowing kids access to all the different websites. My daughter had a myspace account and I made her delete it. I feel that myspace should also have to pay a fine for not being alittle more careful who they allow to sign up. The bottom line is we can spend all day trying to blame someone, but in the end a beautiful girls life is lost due to a stupid prank by a stupid person trying to relive her childhood. Bullying needs to stop at all levels. Schools need to do more about it as well as the internet providers.

- rainbowlover72

Posted 07/07/09 02:25 PM

Lori Drew is supposedly a grown woman. She pretended to be a young man in order to “teach a young girl a lesson”, the consequences of Lori Drew’s action pushed this young girl over the edge. Lori Drew, as an adult, should face the consequences of her action — jail time.

- Shirley Pettis

Posted 07/07/09 02:26 PM

Who allows a 13 year old to use the internet unsurpervised? Laws don’t mean a %^&! if parents are negligent in raising and watching their children closely.

- Tina L.

Posted 07/07/09 02:26 PM

I think it is wrong to blame the mother or the victim. To create a fake myspace and then tell the girl the world would better off without you in it. It all makes me sick and sad for that poor little girl, and that horrible woman should be locked up!

- aka

Posted 07/07/09 02:26 PM

AMAZING HOW THIS MOTHER STILL DOES NT GET IT! HER DAUGHTER WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT MENTALLY STABLE! WHY DID HER DAUGHTER REPEATEDLY GO ON FACEBOOK TO BE HARASSED? SHE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED USING IT AFTER THE FIRST FEW TIMES! OR HER MOM SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HER! THIS IS CLEARLY A CASE OF THIS MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER MAKING STUPID CHOICES! AND BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE! SO TYPICAL !.

- mikey

Posted 07/07/09 02:27 PM

The woman shouldn’t have bullied but the girl killed herself! I’m sorry the girl was weak and didn’t know how to stand up to a bully! My parents taught me to have self worth I wish her parents would have done the same. I’ve dealt with suicide before I have no sympathy.

- Anonymous TX

Posted 07/07/09 02:27 PM

for one megans parents arent to blame wut so ever.. if u ask ne1 they would all agree the drews where nothing but jealous. she needs to look at her daughter before she ever EVER attacks any one else child. They deserve whats coming with them. This judge let her go. But God is who will give the meier family victory. Lori Drew along with her daughter needs some major psychological help. And need to ask god for forgiveness cause they’re going to need it.

- jolee

Posted 07/07/09 02:28 PM

The Judge ruled correctly. Sticks and Stones people!! This girl had problems before this happened, the mother is the one who should be responsible for this childs problems/suicide. Should have nipped it in the butt from the get go.

- ARLENE

Posted 07/07/09 02:28 PM

I totally agree that the woman used no common sense and was immature for what she was doing to this young girl. But, then again, I always have felt that this young girl must have had other issues and deep seated emotional issues that made her commit suicide. There are a lot of young girls dumped by young boys and they don’t commit suicide. I like what the other person wrote about being underage for facebook/myspace. My son who is only 10 right now will never know the ‘cesspool’ of the internet, because we don’t own one.

- Tammy

Posted 07/07/09 02:28 PM

There is so much emphasis on Cyber bullying and the safety of the internet with children and so on. This is a lapse of logic. This woman who knew the intent of her children and even helps to complete the cyber bullying? We all would like retribution just for having to know about her “crime.” Having to picture the bad gal get away with bullying sucks when you know she may get away with it-at least legally.

- Cyber Bullying

Posted 07/07/09 02:28 PM

I also feel for the parents. However no 13 year old should have a myspace account in the first place. They should have been being parents. Checking the mail she got, checking her comments. Doing the kind of crap that pissed me off when I was a kid. Going through her things. Constant vigilence is always necessary. Especially when your daughter is depressed. I agree with the verdict. Granted her actions were disgusting, childish, and criminaly neglegent, she hasnt broken a law. This is another case where the law hasnt caught up with technology. All that can be hoped for is the mom knowing that shes partialy responsible for a young girls death. (I say partialy because the girl was already depressed. She pushed her over the edge.)

- Chris

Posted 07/07/09 02:28 PM

I am at a loss for this pathetic monster (I can’t even call her a human being). She needs some heavy counseling and grow up!! She obviously is missing something in her life and is a very insecure woman. I know what it’s like to be bullied I was scared and had NO ONE to turn to. To Tina I hope to GOD you can heal, there is no loss greater than this..

- majestic

Posted 07/07/09 02:29 PM