Police investigate if bullying was hate crime
By: Deanna King
Updated: October 5, 2011
The investigation into the suicide of teenager Jamey Rodemeyer could take several months to complete. Police in Buffalo are trying to determine if the cyberbullying Rodemeyer endured before his suicide was a hate crime. The 14-year-old referred to himself as bisexual and gay.
Police turned his phone and computer over to a FBI forensic lab to establish a pattern online. "Unfortunately Jamey can't speak for himself now, but hopefully we'll be able to look at that and determine that through his computer," said Amherst Police Chief John Askey. Detectives believe Rodemeyer was harassed on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. "My best guess is the information is going to take some time to go through to see if there are details that will help us support a charge," said Chief Askey.
"The effects of cyberbullying are tremendous," said Dr. Jennie Schaff of Nazareth College. Dr. Schaff says it's a growing problem that is often worse than getting teased on a playground. "What typically happens is these kids become extremely depressed and withdrawn," said Dr. Schaff. She says prosecuting the bully is tough. Although most states have anti-bullying laws not many include electronic communication. School districts can only do so much. "Typically the schools are trying to stay out of it unless you as a parent can prove it's impacting the school day," said Dr. Schaff.
Police believe up to six people harassed Jamie Rodemeyer. Most of the time it happened off school grounds. Experts like Dr. Schaff say we need to do more to educate children on the danger of cyberbullying. "The old adage that sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me take on a whole new meaning," said Dr. Schaff. "These words do hurt because they don't go away."
Police turned his phone and computer over to a FBI forensic lab to establish a pattern online. "Unfortunately Jamey can't speak for himself now, but hopefully we'll be able to look at that and determine that through his computer," said Amherst Police Chief John Askey. Detectives believe Rodemeyer was harassed on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. "My best guess is the information is going to take some time to go through to see if there are details that will help us support a charge," said Chief Askey.
"The effects of cyberbullying are tremendous," said Dr. Jennie Schaff of Nazareth College. Dr. Schaff says it's a growing problem that is often worse than getting teased on a playground. "What typically happens is these kids become extremely depressed and withdrawn," said Dr. Schaff. She says prosecuting the bully is tough. Although most states have anti-bullying laws not many include electronic communication. School districts can only do so much. "Typically the schools are trying to stay out of it unless you as a parent can prove it's impacting the school day," said Dr. Schaff.
Police believe up to six people harassed Jamie Rodemeyer. Most of the time it happened off school grounds. Experts like Dr. Schaff say we need to do more to educate children on the danger of cyberbullying. "The old adage that sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me take on a whole new meaning," said Dr. Schaff. "These words do hurt because they don't go away."
Comments
COme on now, if this kid killed himself because of what someone sent him on the web, then it his own fault ( how do one bully someone else form afar. had to be 1 weak minded chump. Just how could it possibly lead to it? hell if someone's bullying you on line, jump to another site asswhipe. Like saying i was getting bullied by the TV channel 8 ( change the channel is all it takes ) just LMFBO over here attempting to understand how this could have happened, stay off the internet if you can't handle people comments
Anonymous A.
October 6, 2011 at 5:29 pm
