Conspiracy to torment a 13-year-old girl?
Gabriel Falcon
AC360° writer
Lori Drew is not being charged with murder, but the parents of Megan Meier are convinced she drove their daughter to suicide.
Now, two years after the 13-year-old girl hanged herself in her bedroom, Drew, who lived just down the block from the Meier home, is being tried in connection with this tragedy.
But are prosecutors overreaching in their case against her? Drew was indicted on one count of conspiracy and three counts of three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress.
A jury in Los Angeles has already reached a partial verdict on three of the counts. The judge has ordered them to continue deliberations.
If convicted on all the charges, Drew, who maintains her innocence, faces a maximum sentence of 20-years in prison. CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin doubts she will be put behind bars.
Drew’s defense attorney says she is being held to pay for circumstances beyond her control and an outcome that nobody could have foreseen. Furthermore, the defense attorney maintains that prosecutors are making an allegation of a computer fraud crime into a homicide case.
The government, however, maintains Drew, her daughter, and an 18-year old woman conspired to torment, harass and humiliate Megan by tricking her into believing a fictional boyfriend liked her. Prosecutors say they set up a fake myspace page for the boy who flattered and then rejected Megan.
Do you think Lori Drew is guilty? Do you believe she pushed Megan to suicide? Or is she wrongly accused?
|
|
Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Gabe Falcon |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
It is a buffoon, immature, stupid and downright malicious person that would not only condone but participate in this cruel behavior with a child. Teen years are already difficult but then to have a "hit" put out on you and to be the target of such character assassination is often too much for young minds that are still developing coping skills to deal with. The adult involved not only has ruined the lives of the target and her family but has also bestowed evil character flaws upon her on child. Instead of educating her child about the evils of jealousy and teaching her to deal appropriately with her peers...she has harmed her own child. Some people truly are unfit to be in the presence of children and should have them taken away.
I think that Ms. Drew deserves to be charged with MURDER. If it were my child....I think I would have gone over to see Ms. Drew myself and handled it. Children go through enough from "peers" to have to be tormented by an adult. She must have been teased/ridiculed as a teen herself to want to do that. She is a sick woman who deserves to be punished.
The tragic death of Megan Meier is a direct result of the actions of Ms. Drew. Granted, from reports I have read and heard Megan was a child with some emotional problems, not unlike so many other 13 year olds. However, the fact that Ms. Drew took it upon herself to inflict emotional trauma to ANY 13 year old is reprehensible. This case reminds me of the case many years ago regarding the death of yet another teen. I don't recall the name but I do remember that it was another teen's mother who wanted the girl dead over a spot on the cheerleading squad. The lack of moral maturity shown by these women is disgracfull. Why Ms. Drew is not facing charges regarding this innocent child's death leaves me feeling angry, and I am appalled at a legal system that allows it. At the very least she should be charged with negligent homicide or assessory to homicide.
With the things that Lori knowingly allowed her daughter to do to Megan online she needs to be charged with her murder and not just conspiracy or accessing protected computers. She knew all along what was going on and didn't stop it but went along and helped with the torment. She deserves to be in jail!
Cindy...Ga.