November 24, 2007
Dardenne Prairie, Mo
Over 120 people gathered Saturday evening in memory of Megan Meier, a 13-year old cyber-bulling and suicide victim from Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, and to raise awareness of cyber-bulling.
As the crowd assembled at West Middle School in O’Fallon, Missouri, sccworlds.com spoke with Megan’s mother, Tina Meier. She said, “Basically, honestly, what we are doing is trying to get the laws changed. The rest is getting to the schools, getting to the parents. If we don’t do any of that, it’s not going to stop.”
The crowd marched through the neighborhood, carrying candles and wearing buttons displaying Megan Meier’s photo. In a response to a comment about the turn-out, Tina Meier stated, “It’s been amazing.”
The marchers passed the Meier home and assembled on an easement across the street from the home of Lori Drew, whom the Meier family accuses of creating the phony MySpace persona, Josh Evans.
Megan Meier thought Josh Evans was her virtual boyfriend who reportedly posted “The world would be a better place without you” shortly before Megan hanged herself with a belt in her bedroom closet on October 16, 2006.
After Megan’s death, her parents discovered that Josh Evans never existed but was the creation of a close neighbor, their daughter and an employee of that family’s business.
No charges have been filed in connection with Megan’s death. Megan Meier’s uncle, Tony Greco, said “I work in the behavioral health field and I see this happen a lot. I want justice for my niece and never see this happen again.”
There was music and poetry reading at the site. The atmosphere was peaceful and melancholy. Megan’s parents, Tina and Ron Meier, expressed gratitude for the community gathering.
Dardenne Prairie recently passed an ordinance declaring online harassment a misdemeanor, the maximum penalty of a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. State and Federal laws are also being called for.
It is unclear if any specific Federal laws currently would apply to this case.
Copyright 2007 Neighbors About Town
