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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Kids get teased and ostracized all the time. I’m not justifying violence or harassment, but the issue is not about the fact that it was an adult harassing her or that it occurred on the internet. The issue is that the child was not getting the attention she needed. Plenty of kids are harassed and teased, not all of them commit suicide. Megan obviously suffered from deeper issues.

- Madison

Posted 07/07/09 02:58 PM

Like so many other issues that are decided in court, too many people here are letting their emotion control their thought process. I completely agree with all of those who think that what Drew did was despicable. There’s a special place in hell for people like her. That said, I also agree with those who state that the mother of this young girl has to take some responsibility in this matter as well. She doesn’t need to be punished; losing her daughter is punishment enough. All this said, the judge based the decision on the idea that if you convict this woman for portraying a false character on the internet, then you open up Pandora ’s Box. Take a minute and think about it. There are parents out there that use aliases to check up on their kids. Guilty. There are folks out there who are part of fantasy groups - yes some are probably less than healthy, but many are seen as a form of harmless entertainment. Guilty. These are just a couple of things off the top of my head. There are no doubt other scenarios that would fall under legal scrutiny should this conviction stand. Again, I understand the anger and the frustration on both sides. That said legal decisions have to take into consideration long-term effects. I for one think the judge rendered an intelligent verdict in this situation.

- epcthree

Posted 07/07/09 02:58 PM

what?

- don

Posted 07/07/09 02:58 PM

Taking your own life after getting teased is not a normal reaction. Millions and millions of kids all around the world are teased every single day and will never even contemplate suicide, let alone follow thru with it. This girl was obviously dealing with much deeper issues than getting teased on Myspace. There must’ve been mental illness of some form or neglect involved as well. If the cause was something as mundane as teasing, there would be a lot more dead teenagers out there.

- Walter

Posted 07/07/09 02:59 PM

The decision is totally wrong. The judge is not very smart to take the word of a desperate mother trying to get out of jail time. Just because she “said” she didn’t read it, shouldn’t be a factor on the judge letting her off. I would probably say I hadn’t read it either. This person has already established she is NOT an honorable person, therefore could easily be a liar as well. I’m sure of it actually. God bless you Ms. Meier.

- Debbie Powers

Posted 07/07/09 02:59 PM

This is America were all the A$$holes that kill sell drugs and do what ever the hell they want to and get away with it they should be able to hang all the crooks like they did in the past eye for an eye and the world might see better with only one eye to see out of and close the boarders stop letting in all the dirty scum from other countries they could care less about our country they just want free money and be able to yell racist when a White person says something about them but the scum can do or say what ever the hell they want and not be punished

- j

Posted 07/07/09 02:59 PM

To the person who said, “Just because Megan was the victim doesn’t mean that people around her were not to blame. She was only, I repeat only 13. It has been revealed that she suffered from depression. She had somewhat of an illegal Myspace account.” Isn’t Myspace’s age restriction 13+?

- Chronamew

Posted 07/07/09 03:00 PM

The issue is not whether Lori Drew should be jailed for another’s suicide, but that she did something totally sick and twisted to hurt another person using a myspace account!

- anon

Posted 07/07/09 03:01 PM

My 13 year old daughter was harassed by a group of girls from school. The “ring leader” just happens to be the daughter of the school secretary, who HEAVILY involved herself in the girl’s drama. I was a volunteer and mentor at the school. I did not get involved for months, until it all became too much for my daughter. She broke down over spring break. She ended up deleting her myspace account and asked us to shut off her cell phone. The kids came to our house many times after my daughter had been homeschooled for months and had no contact with these kids. The school did nothing. I ended up having to call the police who warned them they’d be arrested for trespassing if they came back. Parnets are not responsible. Too many want to be kids. We are now sending all of our children to a private school. This kind of stuff in happening with frightening frequency. It’s very difficult to protect them once they are identified as a target. My daughter has been home for 4 months and just finally asked to have a cell phone with a new number. It’s sad she can’t even be a kid because some parents won’t teach their kids right from wrong and set a good example. I know she is partly to blame for her drama, which is why I never get involved, I want her to learn to deal with her business herself, but when she’s afraid to go to the office because this girls mom is so mean, there is a serious issue. When she gets mean notes left in her locker and constant harassing text messages, it’s just out of hand.

- mom in MI

Posted 07/07/09 03:02 PM

All these people that think its stupid to blame the “living” people for someone’s suicide….apparently you must also think that all obese people have no self control. No, I’m not obese, so all those same opinionated people need to be quiet. Notice that its ADULTS that are making it a big point about “broke MySpace terms and rules”, “didn’t SHE take her OWN life”?, “When people start blaming living people for someone’s suicide, is a scary day”. blah blah. You all forget about the tulmultuous period that is teenage-years. Emotional strife is tough, and if you think the difference between teen angst and teen suicide behavior i so black and white, then I feel sorry for some of you opinionated people with teenage kids….you’ll never really understand them at all.

- Rusty

Posted 07/07/09 03:02 PM

Sheila you are truley a moron! Teenagers have a life all on their own and have access to the internet wherever they go. You cannot be on their back 24-7 without being a good provider and parent. This devious women impersonated a teenager and drove this poor girl to suicide with the verbal abuse. What type of ignorant judge would allow this “woman” to walk free without any punishment for what she has done. Lori Drew-do us a favor and take your own life-slowly and painfully, that is what you deserve.

- Iris

Posted 07/07/09 03:02 PM

Do some of you not remember what it was like being a teenager? When a boy you “love” broke up with you and you thought it was the end of the world. When you couldn’t see past that moment in time, and didn’t realize that one day you would be an adult and none of the petty stuff from high school would matter anymore. This girl was made to believe that she was a mean, horrible person and that no one like her, by a mean twisted adult. No, Lori Drew didn’t physically harm Megan, but she pushed the already emotional girl over the edge and she should be punished. I also think that the judge is sending the wrong message. I have a 3 year old daughter and I feel for this family and what they must be going through.

- CNicole

Posted 07/07/09 03:02 PM

What a hard thing it is to be a judge and have to make a call like this one. No The young girl should not have been on the internet that would be one wrong but on the other hand What kind of sick demented person does it take to willfully go about destroying another’s life. If she would have told her to her face the things she did pretending to be something or someone she wasn’t then she could have been locked up for Battery. In a very wierd way this demented lady is a pervert and needs some serious mental help and only you Judge can make sure she gets that help by sending her not to jail but to a mental center where she will receive the help she needs or just as a man who has killed and is let free will kill again this demented person will do this again just for fun. Who knows maybe even someone you love may be targeted next. Please get her off the streets and protect the public from the sick mind that she has. You are there to “PROTECT AND SERVE” so please do what is needed. Thank you

- bfgair

Posted 07/07/09 03:02 PM

She should have served time, and alot of it. What kind of mother would do that? Oh..I know..a sick one!!!

- Anonymous

Posted 07/07/09 03:03 PM

This whole thing is sick and twisted. Maybe the issue shouldn’t be about the terms of service, because who really reads those? But how about the fact that a grown woman with a daughter the same age as Megan viciously attacked a thirteen-year-old with her words? Emotional abuse is just as terrible, if not more, than physical. And she had a history of depression? That’s just an awful combination. I can’t help but think that if Lori Drew’s daughter had been the one to commit suicide, she would probably would have sought the same kind of justice. Maybe jail is a bit harsh; I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. But some kind of therapy is needed for a person as deranged and pathetic as she.

- Jenna

Posted 07/07/09 03:03 PM

There are a lot of factors in this case. Someone above stated in simple terms that it is ridiculous to jail someone for not reading the terms of service, and while I agree on this point, that is NOT why this woman was convicted. She was convicted of harassing a girl to the point in which she took her own life. If this had been in real life and not over the internet the woman would have been arrested for harassment and charged just the same. While the victim did take her own life, this other woman was still a leading factor in why. While I don’t believe she should be charged with murder, she should face punishment for harassment at the very least and I find it personally sick that the judge would overturn a jury’s decision. Why did they have a trial anyways if it was just overturned. Ridiculous.

- Missa

Posted 07/07/09 03:03 PM

Megan, Megan I do not know you but I will remember you and your situation for the rest of my life. I also know that you are not the first to be treated this way and you won’t be the last. That said the internet is a LARGE part of many people’s life. It is as common as the kitchen sink. Unfortunately so common that at times we think nothing of our children on facebook or myspace. “It’s ok mom I have it on private and only tell those of my friends from school.” What a common lie, but we believe them, because we are supposed to instill trust and truthfulness. Irregardless, it is incomprehensible to have a grown adult of sound mind trap, harass and drive a susceptible teenager to suicide. Yes this person should pay as should all that severely misuse internet to harass and bring bad things down on others. She knew better. SHE KNEW BETTER.

- Laura

Posted 07/07/09 03:04 PM

MySpace has been an accident waiting to happen for a long time. Lori Drew was the driver and Myspace was the vehicle. I think both should be held responsible. Yes, we as parents are responsible for our children. But children can go to any computer, anywhere, and with a friend’s account create a myspace. Myspace is like a car without brakes and Lori Drew drove the car but did nothing to avoid the accident.

- cindy

Posted 07/07/09 03:04 PM

I certainly hope she intends to file a civil suit (like OJ’s case)…this woman needs to be punished somehow, if not jail time, then monetarily. That judge is opening the floodgates for future mimics, bullies, & predators.

- Rommy

Posted 07/07/09 03:04 PM

This is such a sad world- it’s RIDICULOUS that there even has to be an actual written law stating that harming others online is not okay!! I know you have more brains than that, you so-called judge. It should be obvious that creating a false profile of anyone-for any reason, let alone harm- is wrong. It would be perfectly okay with me if Drew spent at least 10 years in jail, as well as feels guilty for the rest of her life. Whether or not Megan and/or her mom made wrong decisions is way beside the point. I repeat, since the “justice” system isn’t so just, anything done to intentionally harm someone else (especially a child!) should be illegal whether or not the user fails to read the terms of use- which, as I mentioned- shouldn’t even have to be spelled out word for word!

- Anna

Posted 07/07/09 03:05 PM