"Girl who committed suicide saw details of her assault; 3 teens arrested on suspicion of sexual battery" by Martha Mendoza | Associated Press, April 13, 2013
SARATOGA, Calif. — A 15-year-old California girl hanged herself after she was sexually abused in her sleep at a party and then discovered an intimate photo of herself circulating online, a lawyer for her family said Friday.
Sheriff’s officials arrested three 16-year-old boys Thursday on suspicion of sexual battery against Audrie Pott, who committed suicide in September, eight days after the party.
The case shocked many in this prosperous Silicon Valley suburb of 30,000.
And together with two other episodes — a suicide in Canada and a rape case in Steubenville, Ohio — it underscored the dangers of technology in the hands of young people and the use of the Internet to torment others.
You see what is going on here, right? Government is going to have to crack down on that web -- for the sake of the children.
‘‘The problem with digital technologies is they can expand the harm that people suffer greatly,’’ said Nancy Willard, an Oregon-based cyberbullying specialist and creator of a prevention program for schools....
Ah, a con$ultant!
Family lawyer Robert Allard said Pott had been drinking at a sleepover at a friend’s house, fell asleep, and ‘‘woke up to the worst nightmare imaginable.’’
Wait a minute. I'm not blaming the girl for rape, but she was 15-years-old and DRINKING?
WHO gave her the BOOZE?
Was a PARENT at HOME?
**********************************
In the days that followed, she pieced together more precisely what happened from e-mails, text messages, and an explicit photo that was passed around online, and she realized she had been abused by three of her friends, the lawyer said.
You kids are going to have to give up your phones and tablets and stuff because you are not responsible stewards of the technology. Sorry.
‘‘We are talking about a systematic distributing of a photo involving an intimate body part of hers,’’ Allard said.
On Facebook, Pott said the whole school knew what happened, and she complained that her life was ruined — ‘‘worst day ever,’’ Allard said.
Her parents did not learn about the assault until after her death....
The news surprised residents of the town.
‘‘People in this town are involved, parents advocate for their kids to get the best education, the best teachers, the best sports,’’ said Jamie Perez, who was walking her baby and her dog on Friday past a coffee shop.
Perez graduated from the local school system, which has one of the top high schools in the state.
Family videos of Pott show a bright, cheerful girl standing on a cantering horse, boogie boarding at the beach, playing her violin, and singing.
I know this is probably not the right time, but was she on any prescription pharmaceuticals (if that is not too conspiratorial for you)?
Interviewed for her high school newspaper, Saratoga Falcon, when she started as a freshman in 2011, Audrie was optimistic and said she was looking forward to playing on the soccer team.
Related: Women’s soccer tries third pro league
‘‘I’m really excited to meet new people; there are a lot more people in high school than in middle school,’’ she said. ‘‘However, I’m not looking forward to all the extra homework. Another thing I’m really excited about is that in high school, the dances seem so much more fun.’’
I admit, it is a tragic loss, just like the loss of any life.
Allard said Thursday’s arrests ‘‘reopened a wound’’ for the girl’s family members, and they have gone into seclusion.
But they want to see the boys prosecuted as adults and tougher consequences for distributing such photos....
In Steubenville, Ohio, two high school football players were convicted last month of raping a 16-year-old girl in a crime that was recorded on cellphones by students and gossiped about online.
The victim, who had been drunk, realized she had been attacked after seeing text messages, a photo of herself naked, and a video that mocked her....
Related: Big Red Rape
In Canada, police said Friday they have received new information and are reopening their investigation in the case of Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, who committed suicide.
Parsons was photographed while being sexually assaulted in 2011, and was then bullied after the photo was shared on the Web, authorities said.
Police initially concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone.
--more--"
Also see:
"Michigan won approval Friday to build a second bridge between Detroit and Canada, a key step needed to start construction on the $3.5 billion government project to relieve congestion and speed up trade at the busiest border crossing between the two countries. Construction could start in 2015 or 2016 and be finished by 2020. The State Department said that the New International Trade Crossing will “serve the national interest.”"
Then why am I not interested?
