Let’s look at the charges. Conspiracy. Conspiracy to do what? Hurt a girl’s feelings. If this Josh Evans was a real boy who said those things to Megan’s face, would he be brought up on charges? Next charge, accessing computers with false information. So Lori Drew had a made up account created on MySpace. Now let’s go after the thousands or millions of people who do not use their real identity to create a MySpace account. An emotionally fragile girl placed too much stock in a communication from someone she had never met. Her parents should have explained the internet and what some people like to do with such anonymity. I think this was a prank with unforeseen consequences and it is sad. This happens all the time and it is not a crime. Lori Drew is partly to blame as well as Megan’s parents. Two wrongs that combined with horrific consequences. This is one of those bad things that needs to be turned into an opportunity for people to learn. I am sure Lori Drew feels badly, but I still don’t think she broke the law.

Yes she should have. Any adult that would intentionally treat a child the way she did….to the point that she commited suicide, should be convicted. She is supposed to be the adult rather than acting like a teenager. She deserves everything she gets and more.

No kidding she should be prosecuted! What kind of “Mother” (not that she deserves that title) would taunt a 13 year old? Furthermore, that she has a teenage daughter herself…I am a Mother of an almost teen, I couldn’t even imagine participating in that type of behaviour, not only as a mother but as an adult in general! Unfortunately, it won’t bring back Megan! Atleast they can have a “touch” of releif!

Let’s talk simply who shares the blame for this tragic incident……..

Lori Drew

Acting like a child by joining in on the MySpace fiasco. How many people over the age of 40 are on MySpace in the first place? She showed incredible stupidity and ignorance, both of which ARE NOT crimes. On the other hand, there are few rocket scientists in prison.

Should she be publically rediculed and chasized? Of course! Should she be sent to Leavenworth? No!

What would motivate a parent to act like a child is beyond reason.

Tina and Rick Meier

HELLO! Are the parents home? Why has NO ONE, other than bloggers in this venue, accused the Meiers of negligent parenting? They had to allow her access to a computer and the NET. Why were they not monitoring her activities and who she was talking too?

Meagan had obvious socio-emotional problems that required care and monitoring. Why did the Dr. prescribe anti-depressents to an adolescent? Anyone MD knows that the use of Zanax, Cellexa, Wellbutrin and other anti-depressents/anti-anxiety drugs are conraindicated for treating depression in adolescent and pre-adolescent patients. Thoughts of doing self-harm, or harm to others, is common in patients with mild to moderate depression. Why did her parents not review this with the Dr.?

Meagan Meier

As tragic as this is, why did Meagan not make her mom aware of what was happening? If she did, why did her mother not act on the problem, like taking away the computer access? Having taught this age group for an entire lifetime, I can tell you that this age is difficult enough without these kinds of activities.

While middle school age kids want to draw away at times, they are never too far away. Her emotional state should have created alarm bells that were either not considered serious or ignored altogether.

The Media

If it bleeds, it leads! Sorry, but the media sensationalism surrounding this entire case is a sad spectecal.

The Court is essentially taking MySpace’s terms & conditions and making them criminal law…if every company did this, many of us would likely be in jail already. The woman did a bad thing, we can all agree on that. However, are we going to send every person to jail that says something that hurts others feelings? It is indeed tragic that the little girl took her own life due to these harsh words, but she did take her OWN life. She and her parents are likely more responsible for this death more than a woman that made a huge mistake by interjecting.

Before you send this woman to jail, think about if you have ever said anything that might hurt someone’s feelings. If so, should you go to jail because those words MAY contribute to something worse?

If Drew had caused this child to run outside and be hit by a truck, then maybe I could see her being somehow responsiable,but ultimatly we are responiable for our own actions………if I killed myself everytime someone told me to I’d be dead ahundred time over.

Karl and superdave (which I highly doubt!)your comments are so typical of why things like this happen. Unfit mother, it’s Megan’s fault? This case probably won’t hold, but I hope Lori Drew if frightened out of her mind.

No one can help but feel for the Meier family and their loss. That said, clearly no one could have forseen what would transpire. Let’s not act as though Megan and this MySpace incident existed in a vacuum. Her parents’ relationship was on the rocks. Surely there were other problems and insecurities suffered by any 13-year-old. It’s a difficult time in a child’s life. These charges which have been pursued so aggressively by the parents are starting to feel less like justice and more like transference for the parents’ own contributions to their daughter’s fragile emotional state. If only all parents of a suicidal teen had scapegoats like the Drews. The truth is, it was a tragedy for which no one was directly responsible.

Just another form of an adult preying on a minor. The “adult” chose to become involved in a rift between two children. All teens (and some adults too, unfortunately) talk about their “friends” behind their backs. Why the mom felt she had to involve herself is my question. She should have let the children’s argument remain with the children!

Adults are supposed to be adults, not juveniles. Adults are not supposed to pick on and harrass children.