12-year-old girl commits suicide, bullies to be charged.

AKELAND, Fla. (AP) A 12-year-old Florida girl committed suicide after she was bullied online by more than a dozen girls and a sheriff said Thursday that he is investigating whether he can file charges under Florida's new law that covers cyber-bullying.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that Rebecca Ann Sedwick jumped to her death on Monday at an old cement business in Lakeland, a city between Tampa and Orlando. Investigators say the girl was despondent after others had posted hate messages about her online.

Sedwick was "absolutely terrorized on social media," Judd said.

The Lakeland Ledger (http://bit.ly/1enEgI5) reports that detectives found multiple social media applications where Sedwick was constantly bullied with messages, including "Go kill yourself," and "Why are you still alive?"

He said parents of all 15 girls have cooperated with detectives and several cellphones and laptops have been confiscated. Judd said charges could be filed including cyber stalking.

"If we can get any evidence of a criminal offense, the person or persons involved will be punished," he said.

Before her death, Sedwick had searched questions online related to suicide, including "How many over-the-counter drugs do you take to die?" and "How many Advil do you have to take to die?"

Detectives also found photos of Sedwick with razor blades lying on her arms and with her head resting on a railroad track, Judd said.

Judd said a 12-year-old boy in North Carolina, who Sedwick met through social media, knew of her plan. Sedwick messaged him only hours before her death saying she was dead and "I'm jumping, I can't take it anymore."

Sedwick also changed her name on a free messaging application to "That Dead Girl."

Judd said detectives are trying to investigate the social media applications that Sedwick used, including Kik and Ask.fm, but many of the websites are based in other countries.

If detectives can find evidence, according to Florida law, the girls could be charged with felony cyber stalking because Sedwick was under 16 years old.

"If you bully somebody online and it's reported to us and we can build a credible case, we will charge you," Judd said.

Source.

and thats why dont impulsivly post things on social media sites.

I think the bullies should be charged, however, I'm confused as to why she couldn't just log off of facebook? Or was she bullied irl too?

I think the bullies should be charged, however, I'm confused as to why she couldn't just log off of facebook? Or was she bullied irl too?

deeliman

God, kids are ****ing disgusting. What a shame. 

[QUOTE="deeliman"]

I think the bullies should be charged, however, I'm confused as to why she couldn't just log off of facebook? Or was she bullied irl too?

MrGeezer

Inb4 victim blamingCapitan_Kid

I don't blame the victim; I blame the person who killed her.

[QUOTE="Capitan_Kid"]Inb4 victim blamingOleg_Huzwog

I don't blame the victim; I blame the person who killed her.

Nice.

I think the bullies should be charged, however, I'm confused as to why she couldn't just log off of facebook? Or was she bullied irl too?

deeliman

No one deserves to be harassed but what ever happened to not speaking with others online or not connecting with certain people through social networks?

Someone who goes through with such a drastic measure after dealing with being made fun of and such has some other underlying issues.

[QUOTE="deeliman"]

I think the bullies should be charged, however, I'm confused as to why she couldn't just log off of facebook? Or was she bullied irl too?

Capitan_Kid

Detectives also found photos of Sedwick with razor blades lying on her arms and with her head resting on a railroad track, Judd said.

Judd said a 12-year-old boy in North Carolina, who Sedwick met through social media, knew of her plan. Sedwick messaged him only hours before her death saying she was dead and "I'm jumping, I can't take it anymore."

Sedwick also changed her name on a free messaging application to "That Dead Girl."

Girl was obviously disturbed

Life would have been so much easier growing up if all the bullies I had to deal with were cyber bullies. Not sure why kids these days take that stuff so seriously, its not like they can hit you through the computer.

Im guessing that was more going on in her life the the teasing pushed her over the edge

Life would have been so much easier growing up if all the bullies I had to deal with were cyber bullies. Not sure why kids these days take that stuff so seriously, its not like they can hit you through the computer.

Im guessing that was more going on in her life the the teasing pushed her over the edge

Diablo-B

seriously.  IF all I had to do was ignore insults on a computer screen, life would have been awesome.

I had to deal with people making fun of me in person, though, and occasional physical abuse.

Concerning the bolded part...she took pictures with her head lying on railroad tracks lol.  The girl was depressed and death obsessed.  Naturally, bullies will see this as a weakness and attack it.

My kids will not have any access to computers or smartphones until they are much older.  They have no business have either devices. 

My kids will not have any access to computers or smartphones until they are much older.  They have no business have either devices. 

Chutebox

Lame.

My kids will not have any access to computers or smartphones until they are much older.  They have no business have either devices. 

Chutebox

Felony cyber stalking? What will they think of next?

No one deserves to be harassed but what ever happened to not speaking with others online or not connecting with certain people through social networks?

Someone who goes through with such a drastic measure after dealing with being made fun of and such has some other underlying issues.

Solaryellow

Look, its sad the girl killed herself and all, but what type of children are people raising in the states nowadays? You cant log off? I remember being bullied as a child. But back in my days, it wasnt just people saying mean things online, it was me getting my ass handed to me on a daily basis, getting my money stolen, and on 2 occasions broken bones. So whats happening? Yes bullying needs to stop, but at the same time maybe parents should try to teach their children how to deal with people who arent nice...because those people are in the world, whether we like it or not.II_Seraphim_II

She was likely bullied outside of the online world as well.

And the girl was definitely disturbed, but I do think she was trying to get help in a very twisted manner.

The fact that she spent all this time posting such stuff really makes me think she wanted someone to come ask questions and try and save her.

I had a friend who had alot of problems in HS. She made a couple of suicide attemots involving taking pills. One time she had a gun but she called me instead of just doing it and I calmed her down and talked her out of it.

The key thing was EVERY TIME she set it up so she could be saved somehow, and over time she was saved. She has been healthy now for YEARS after having to spend multiple stays at a mental health institute and years of struggling to get control.

She had probems and she wanted help but sometimes people just have an odd way of trying to get help, and fake suicide attempts and such like what the girl in this story was doing are fairly common ways that people try and get help.

People really need to start raising their kids with tougher skin. All these kids killing themselves over cyber bullies is just ridiculous. When I was 12 I got shit said to my face. Never thought about killing myself. Kids nowadays are too damn sensitive. And arresting someone for cyber stalking? What the hell? They even outlawed trolling in Arizona.

in4b "back in my day WE were tough"

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.. too late.

She was likely bullied outside of the online world as well.

And the girl was definitely disturbed, but I do think she was trying to get help in a very twisted manner.

The fact that she spent all this time posting such stuff really makes me think she wanted someone to come ask questions and try and save her.

I had a friend who had alot of problems in HS. She made a couple of suicide attemots involving taking pills. One time she had a gun but she called me instead of just doing it and I calmed her down and talked her out of it.

The key thing was EVERY TIME she set it up so she could be saved somehow, and over time she was saved. She has been healthy now for YEARS after having to spend multiple stays at a mental health institute and years of struggling to get control.

She had probems and she wanted help but sometimes people just have an odd way of trying to get help, and fake suicide attempts and such like what the girl in this story was doing are fairly common ways that people try and get help.

LostProphetFLCL

People really need to start raising their kids with tougher skin. All these kids killing themselves over cyber bullies is just ridiculous. When I was 12 I got shit said to my face. Never thought about killing myself. Kids nowadays are too damn sensitive. And arresting someone for cyber stalking? What the hell? They even outlawed trolling in Arizona.

helwa1988

Link? Because that would be pretty god damn funny :P

[QUOTE="LostProphetFLCL"]

She was likely bullied outside of the online world as well.

And the girl was definitely disturbed, but I do think she was trying to get help in a very twisted manner.

The fact that she spent all this time posting such stuff really makes me think she wanted someone to come ask questions and try and save her.

I had a friend who had alot of problems in HS. She made a couple of suicide attemots involving taking pills. One time she had a gun but she called me instead of just doing it and I calmed her down and talked her out of it.

The key thing was EVERY TIME she set it up so she could be saved somehow, and over time she was saved. She has been healthy now for YEARS after having to spend multiple stays at a mental health institute and years of struggling to get control.

She had probems and she wanted help but sometimes people just have an odd way of trying to get help, and fake suicide attempts and such like what the girl in this story was doing are fairly common ways that people try and get help.

MrGeezer

Oh with this story I consider the whole obsession with death and "lol I'm gonna commit suicide" part the cry for help. The suicide attempt was genuine I think after her cries got ignored and she just got continuously harassed instead...

Oh with this story I consider the whole obsession with death and "lol I'm gonna commit suicide" part the cry for help. The suicide attempt was genuine I think after her cries got ignored and she just got continuously harassed instead...

LostProphetFLCL

Look, its sad the girl killed herself and all, but what type of children are people raising in the states nowadays? You cant log off? I remember being bullied as a child. But back in my days, it wasnt just people saying mean things online, it was me getting my ass handed to me on a daily basis, getting my money stolen, and on 2 occasions broken bones. So whats happening? Yes bullying needs to stop, but at the same time maybe parents should try to teach their children how to deal with people who arent nice...because those people are in the world, whether we like it or not.II_Seraphim_II

You tell us nothing about how you dealt with bullying, so what was the point of that little story? 

To some degree, she can't just log off. what goes online stays online and I think what's more important for parents to teach kids.

OT stands for gay and transgender rights but obhors children that are bullied to death. What a bunch of pansies.SolidSnake35

Sad to hear but for god sake, they are 12. Since when do 12yr olds think of suicide? Crazy shit.

Girls should not be charged with shit. They didn't kill her, she killed herself. 

OT stands for gay and transgender rights but obhors children that are bullied to death. What a bunch of pansies.SolidSnake35

Meh, I woulda gone the Columbine route.

[QUOTE="Capitan_Kid"]Inb4 victim blamingOleg_Huzwog

I don't blame the victim; I blame the person who killed her.

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OT stands for gay and transgender rights but obhors children that are bullied to death. What a bunch of pansies.SolidSnake35

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]Look, its sad the girl killed herself and all, but what type of children are people raising in the states nowadays? You cant log off? I remember being bullied as a child. But back in my days, it wasnt just people saying mean things online, it was me getting my ass handed to me on a daily basis, getting my money stolen, and on 2 occasions broken bones. So whats happening? Yes bullying needs to stop, but at the same time maybe parents should try to teach their children how to deal with people who arent nice...because those people are in the world, whether we like it or not.Jimn_tonic

You tell us nothing about how you dealt with bullying, so what was the point of that little story? 

To some degree, she can't just log off. what goes online stays online and I think what's more important for parents to teach kids.

[QUOTE="Jimn_tonic"]

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]Look, its sad the girl killed herself and all, but what type of children are people raising in the states nowadays? You cant log off? I remember being bullied as a child. But back in my days, it wasnt just people saying mean things online, it was me getting my ass handed to me on a daily basis, getting my money stolen, and on 2 occasions broken bones. So whats happening? Yes bullying needs to stop, but at the same time maybe parents should try to teach their children how to deal with people who arent nice...because those people are in the world, whether we like it or not.II_Seraphim_II

You tell us nothing about how you dealt with bullying, so what was the point of that little story? 

To some degree, she can't just log off. what goes online stays online and I think what's more important for parents to teach kids.

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]

[QUOTE="Jimn_tonic"]

You tell us nothing about how you dealt with bullying, so what was the point of that little story? 

To some degree, she can't just log off. what goes online stays online and I think what's more important for parents to teach kids.

deeliman

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] Most suicidal people do give hints...MrGeezer

Um... the way the article makes it sound since it said online search, she did a google search on the pills. It's not like she went around school asking, "Hey guys, how many sleeping pills should I take to die?" Also, head on the railroad track, would have to see the photo to get what impression is trying to make. Art/photography can get annoyingly gray really fast.

[QUOTE="deeliman"][QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"] Oh I apologize, my story was only meant to show that I too have experience with bullying. What I did was ignore it. Got my ass kicked a view times, learned to avoid situations that were likely to lead to me getting my ass kicked and i learned how to run fast. Thats how i dealt with it. I could have learned to fight back but I was too small back then and I dont like hurting people even in self defense. I always feel bad afterwards.Nibroc420

Inb4 victim blamingCapitan_Kid

I can actually feel sorry for a 12 year old.

But if you're 14 and over....well. I don't want an infraction.

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konvikt_17

I love that pic.