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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It infuriates me that people have so much time on their hands that they cannot use it to provide for the public good. This woman should remain in jail and when released should to 40 to 60 hours of community service for the rest of her life. Needless to say, she should never council suicide candidates. I would like the judge’s email address so I can write to him. Bill

- Bill De

Posted 07/07/09 02:50 PM

It’s a tragic event but I don’t think the mom who was convicted of fraud should be sentenced to jail. If anything, maybe make her have to write a check for a dollar ever month to the mom that lost her daughter. Nonetheless, she is not going to be able to go on with her life and I think that would be enough punishment since I’m sure she never thought that this is how it would end. It is very immature of her and I’m only 15 and this is something I would think of doing, I sure hope I could make a better decision by the time I’m that old.

- Tyler

Posted 07/07/09 02:51 PM

Where do we write too??

- tracy

Posted 07/07/09 02:51 PM

Ok this is one twisted world to live in. a grown woman harassing a little 13 year old girl? thats just insane. I cant believe that she got off the hook for this. What i want to know is what would possess her to bully her neighbors kid.

- Nick

Posted 07/07/09 02:52 PM

I AM SORRY FOR LOSS AND MY PRAYERS GOES OUT TO HER FAMILY! I THINK THAT SHE SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR WHAT SHE DID, BUT THEN THE MOM SHOULDA BEEN MORE INTO HER DAUGHTER OF WHAT SHE IS DOIN? BUT NO CAN JUGDE CAUSE NO IS ANY BETTER! AND NO ONE IS PERFECT,,,,,,THE JUGE SHOULD BE MORE INTO THIS CASE CAUSE WHAT IF IT WAS ONE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS? THE JUGE WOULD WANT JUSTICES OR HIS FAMILY CAUSE I DONT THINK ANY ONE SHOULD LOSE A CHILD….

- some where in vegas

Posted 07/07/09 02:52 PM

Look, she was depressed and had prvious suicudal attempts. She was underage and so what if her parents had the password they obviously didnt pay attention. The mother should have gotten her daughter help! Fine the other lady for the fake profile like anyone else would get.

- caligirl

Posted 07/07/09 02:52 PM

I would do everything in my power to make Lori Drew everyday existance a living reminder of the anguish she caused. If she goes to prison, even for three years, she will need to be protected from her fellow inmates as there is a code that she violated. So here’s hoping the judge recognizes the error of his ways.

- John

Posted 07/07/09 02:54 PM

Lori Drew should go to jail. But even if she does not… I would not want to be in her shoes. Karma is not forgiving. And to any parent that believes you can control what your kid does on the internet… you are sadly foolish and mistaken. Kids create fake names and profiles, email addresses. They can use a friend’s computer. They are kids, so they will do some irresponsible things no matter what. But Lori Drew is a sick woman. So sad.

- Miccah

Posted 07/07/09 02:55 PM

Yes, the parents are responsible for their daughter and her actions. Maybe she should not have been allowed to have a myspace or facebook acct, but who says that she was not accessing this acct at her friend’s home. The thing that I find most disturbing is that a grown adult woman would stoop so low and to act so childish and immature just to harrass and intimidate and embarrass such a young girl. The parents of Megan are suffering a tremendous loss while Lori Drew seems to not be suffering anything. She should have some consequence for her intolerable actions against Megan. Lori should be ashamed of herself!

- Beth

Posted 07/07/09 02:55 PM

Although Lori Drew’s actions were immature and wrong, she cannot be blamed for Megan’s death. Megan chose how to deal with her pain and depression, and unfortunately, she chose to take her life instead of seeking help. I am NOT excusing Ms. Drew, but I think there should be more emphasis put on suicide education and helping teens take positive steps to cope with problems.

- Julia

Posted 07/07/09 02:55 PM

I feel that people should be held responsible and that women should be help responsible. I use the internet and it should be safe, and if people use it to due what she did then they should be held responsible.

- karen

Posted 07/07/09 02:55 PM

This is absurd! Three years in prison is too lenient for that disgusting woman, but for the judge to overturn the verdict and let her go free… that is a spit in the face of justice. I hope people do write this judge, and I hope he does reverse his decision. As to you people who keep saying “The girl shouldn’t have been on Myspace,” just knock that crap off! Stop blaming the victim, here! That’s what Myspace is for, for young people to socialize online. And there’s no rule saying teenagers can’t open accounts on there.

- Bell

Posted 07/07/09 02:56 PM

The judge is an animal and do not have any heart. One day this woman is going to be harrased the same way. If she does not pay here, she will pay in hell.

- miriam

Posted 07/07/09 02:56 PM

I just have a feeling that parent’s should be responsible for their children. I know it sounds strange, but hey if parent’s policed them better maybe sociaty wouldn’t have to, or worse.

- Pam

Posted 07/07/09 02:56 PM

Shame on Lori and the judge. I am sick of people not taking responsibility for their actions. Why does the victims and/or family have to have to suffer and she does not have to pay the piper? My prayers will continue to go out to Megan and her family.

- Cindy

Posted 07/07/09 02:56 PM

This judge shoiuld be disbarred. he has no common sense. The jury already found her guilty. He is playing God. Get rid of this —-hole.

- Bailey

Posted 07/07/09 02:56 PM

I think a lot of you who are saying this girl shouldn’t take what’s said on MySpace seriously are too old to know that for teenagers the internet is a part of their real life. It is an extension of their world and their social life. They communicate through technology sometimes more than they communicate through actually speaking. Do you remember how long you used to talk on the phone? That’s how long they spend on sites like MySpace and FaceBook and texting each other. This is part of their reality. They do take it as seriously as their reality and they don’t make a distinction. In a world where we are as connected as we are, there are many people who have friends who are strictly over the internet or old friends who they only keep in touch with over MySpace and FaceBook. Of coarse this girl would take this seriously. She was a 13 year old girl who had very little experience with the world and the internet is part of that world.

- AV

Posted 07/07/09 02:57 PM

I think that it’s horrible that Lori Drew’s charges were thrown out! The judge obviously doesn’t have children so the judge obviously doesn’t realize how important our children are. I hope that Tina Meier can get the ruling overturned. My prayers to her and her family.

- Rosa

Posted 07/07/09 02:57 PM

The judge is dead wrong. She did wrong. She should be held accountable. Plain and simple.

- JoAnn

Posted 07/07/09 02:57 PM

this judge was wrong as can be. lori drew should be hled responsible for what she did, she had no busniess doing what she did to megan. how would she like for someone to harass her kids like that and them end up doing what megan did. if she does did sentenced i will feel no remorse. my heart goes out to megans family.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/07/09 02:57 PM