POKIN AROUND: Readers respond in force to story on suicide, MySpace hoax
Many of you expressed appreciation to me and to the Journal for running the story.
Some of you have asked your children to read the story and have requested/demanded to look at their MySpace pages.Of course, there has been outrage over the fact that Josh Evans - a 16-year-old who never existed - was created not by a teen, but by an adult. That anger is reflected in the comments posted on the Journal's Web sites.
Since the story ran Sunday Tina Meier, Megan's mother, has been contacted by other media outlets.
In brief, here's what happened.
Josh Evans had taken an interest in Megan, who for much of her life had battled depression and struggled with her weight. But according to her parents she was the happiest she had ever been.
Megan ended her life after Josh, whom she never actually met, suddenly became mean to her.
Six weeks after she died her parents discovered that Josh was created by a neighbor down the block, an adult woman whose own daughter had once been Megan's friend. This woman knew of Megan's depression, says Tina Meier.
According to a police report filed by the woman down the block, she created the account to check to see what Megan was saying, if anything, about her daughter. According to the police report, the woman, her daughter and an 18-year-old part-time employee monitored the Josh Evans account.
In Sunday's story the Journal did not name the woman because the newspaper did not want to identify her daughter. It was a decision I supported.
A few of you took us to task for not naming this woman.
I understand the loss the Meiers feel. But I told Tina in our very first conversation that even though we might have the legal right to publish a name, it doesn't necessarily mean we will.
Here are some of your comments. Many are taken from our Web sites.
"I have never responded to a news article before, but your story has not only moved me, made me cry, but has angered me. You are right. These laws need to change along with our so-called child predator laws." - Lisa K.
"The realization this can actually happen is truly frightening. THANK YOU for printing it" - R. W. Bross
"Your story in today's paper about Megan was sad but unfortunately an eye opener for every parent out there with a child that loves the Internet." - Heidi
"I hope your article strikes a chord with kids who may be planning (or may be currently doing) similar pranks on their friends, and make parents 'take notice.'" - Raymond Stone, St. Charles
"Your article in this morning's St. Charles Journal regarding the tragic and senseless suicide of young Megan Meier last fall, and the resulting criminal, legal, and familial progress and aftereffects, was a very powerful and moving piece, and I thank you for telling it." - Mandy Matthews
"I admire the courage of the Meiers to tell this story, and am astounded that it was actually ADULTS behind the fake identity that caused this young person so much unnecessary grief. It seems to me that justice has not been served in this matter." - GS
"This is a wake up call and I hope this story is out on the Internet for all parents to read and realize this could happen to them." - Kellie Keling, Wentzville
"I am a journalist myself, and I know the policy regarding not naming sexual assault victims, but none are involved here, and I cannot understand how you came to the decision not to name them." - Brian Russell, Alton
"This article was so upsetting that it made me sick to my stomach." - Ashley
"Parents today are so worried about being their child's friend and playing these adolescent games to prove how cool they are to their kid and the kid's friends, when what the kid needs is a parent." - Rachel
"This story is touching and sad. There should be a law and the Meiers would have my support. Mrs. Meier, don't blame yourself for your daughter's death." - Tammy
And finally, a letter from someone who still feels the pain, and still struggles to look to the future, not to the past.
"I am hopeful that with this article we can start our journey to change the law and not let another family go through what we have gone through." - Tina Meier, St. Charles
