http://tinyurl.com/2danho

Readers react to Megan Meier story


By Steve Pokin
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:41 PM CST

This newspaper has received an incredible response to Sunday's story on the
death of Megan Meier, a 13-year-old who lived in Dardenne Prairie and
committed suicide last year.

Many of you expressed appreciation to me and to the Journal for running the
story.

Some of you have asked your children to read the story and have
requested/demanded to look at their MySpace pages.Of course, there has been
outrage over the fact that Josh Evans - a 16-year-old who never existed -
was created not by a teen, but by an adult. That anger is reflected in the
comments posted on the Journal's Web sites.

Since the story ran Sunday Tina Meier, Megan's mother, has been contacted by
other media outlets.

In brief, here's what happened.

Josh Evans had taken an interest in Megan, who for much of her life had
battled depression and struggled with her weight. But according to her
parents she was the happiest she had ever been.

Megan ended her life after Josh, whom she never actually met, suddenly
became mean to her.

Six weeks after she died her parents discovered that Josh was created by a
neighbor down the block, an adult woman whose own daughter had once been
Megan's friend. This woman knew of Megan's depression, says Tina Meier.

According to a police report filed by the woman down the block, she created
the account to check to see what Megan was saying, if anything, about her
daughter. According to the police report, the woman, her daughter and an
18-year-old part-time employee monitored the Josh Evans account.

In Sunday's story the Journal did not name the woman because the newspaper
did not want to identify her daughter. It was a decision I supported.

A few of you took us to task for not naming this woman.

I understand the loss the Meiers feel. But I told Tina in our very first
conversation that even though we might have the legal right to publish a
name, it doesn't necessarily mean we will.

Here are some of your comments. Many are taken from our Web sites.

"I have never responded to a news article before, but your story has not
only moved me, made me cry, but has angered me. You are right. These laws
need to change along with our so-called child predator laws." - Lisa K.

"The realization this can actually happen is truly frightening. THANK YOU
for printing it" - R. W. Bross

"Your story in today's paper about Megan was sad but unfortunately an eye
opener for every parent out there with a child that loves the Internet." -
Heidi

"I hope your article strikes a chord with kids who may be planning (or may
be currently doing) similar pranks on their friends, and make parents 'take
notice.'" - Raymond Stone, St. Charles

"Your article in this morning's St. Charles Journal regarding the tragic and
senseless suicide of young Megan Meier last fall, and the resulting
criminal, legal, and familial progress and aftereffects, was a very powerful
and moving piece, and I thank you for telling it." - Mandy Matthews

"I admire the courage of the Meiers to tell this story, and am astounded
that it was actually ADULTS behind the fake identity that caused this young
person so much unnecessary grief. It seems to me that justice has not been
served in this matter." - GS

"This is a wake up call and I hope this story is out on the Internet for all
parents to read and realize this could happen to them." - Kellie Keling,
Wentzville

"I am a journalist myself, and I know the policy regarding not naming sexual
assault victims, but none are involved here, and I cannot understand how you
came to the decision not to name them." - Brian Russell, Alton

"This article was so upsetting that it made me sick to my stomach." - Ashley

"Parents today are so worried about being their child's friend and playing
these adolescent games to prove how cool they are to their kid and the kid's
friends, when what the kid needs is a parent." - Rachel

"This story is touching and sad. There should be a law and the Meiers would
have my support. … Mrs. Meier, don't blame yourself for your daughter's
death." - Tammy

And finally, a letter from someone who still feels the pain, and still
struggles to look to the future, not to the past.

"I am hopeful that with this article we can start our journey to change the
law and not let another family go through what we have gone through." - Tina
Meier, St. Charles


http://bluemerle.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-you-said-to-megan-meier.html