The MySpace cyber-bully which drove teenager Megan Meier to her death, was found guilty on three misdemeanor counts. Lori Drew was clear on felony charges. The teenage death has prompted calls for social networking sites to crack down.
By: John Lester
Published: Nov 28, 2008
Updated: Jul 2, 2009
The Missouri woman who prosecutors say drove a 13-year-old girl to suicide by using a fake MySpace profile was acquitted of three felony charges on Wednesday. The suburban mother will face a sentence ranging from probation to three years in jail.
Lori Drew, 49, created a fake profile on MySpace as a 16-year-old boy as a way to build trust with Megan Meier. Drew wanted to find out if Meier. was talking bad about her daughter after a falling out.
As the online chats continued, so did the relationship between Meier and the boy. Prosecutors say Drew and a teenage employee wanted to embarrass Meier publicly by using the MySpace account.
However, the relationship ended abruptly when the boy told 13-year-old Meier that the world would be a better place without her. Meier hanged herself just hours after reading the final messages.
The MySpace case prompted calls for social networking sites to crack down on similar behavior. While there are no laws against the practice, states are reviewing new legislation that could turn similar online behavior into a felony.
Lori Drew also attended Megan Meier's funeral before word got out about the MySpace profile.
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