anotherlook

In a prepared statement issued through her attorney, 50-year old Lori Drew, the mother accused of cyber-bullying a 13-year old girl who ended up hanging herself states that the decision of Judge George H. Wu, to overturn the verdict which could have sent her to jail for up to three years, “proper”.

Was it “proper for a 50-year old woman to humiliate a 13-year old by setting up a fake account on MySpace in the name of “Josh”? Was it proper to lead this little girl on, making her believe that “Josh” was beginning to like her; paying her compliments only to crush her in the end by telling her “the world would be a better place without you.”

In denial, Drew explains “In my view, it was proper that this case was dismissed, primarily because I simply did not do what the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles accused me of doing.” Authorities in Missouri originally declined to charge Drew in connection with the death of 13-year old Megan Meier however, prosecutors in Los Angeles, where MySpace is based, decided to charge Drew using the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

While this was the first case of its kind brought to trial under federal law and while the jury in Los Angeles found Lori Drew guilty of three misdemeanor charges including accessing computers without authorization, Judge Wu decided on acquittal and to overturn the conviction stating that “if Drew is to be found guilty of illegally accessing computers, anyone who has ever violated the social networking site’s terms of service would be guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Judge Wu goes on to say: “That would be unconstitutional; it could mean that even those who lie about their age on networking sites would be guilty of a crime. Because of the wide range of infractions this guilty verdict would encompass, Judge Wu decided it would be in the best interest of the masses and in the best interest in avoidance of frivolous legal battles for any small infraction that many people are engaging in at the present time.

Meanwhile, Tina Meier, mother of 13-year old Megan told Matt Lauer of the Today Show, that she had hoped Drew would go to prison but says “I wouldn’t want to be in Lori Drew’s shoes and live her life. I think she’s already basically living a life conviction right now.” Since the death of her 13-year old daughter took place in 2006, the time limit may be up for her to file a civil case against Drew.

Drew further states in her prepared statement: “I hope Judge Wu’s decision today will be a turning point for all families involved in returning to a more normal life.” How could she even form those precise words? How will Tina’s life ever return to “normal” after what she witnessed? How will Tina ever purge the memory of finding her daughter hanging in the closet because of the things said to her by Lori Drew? How insensitive were those words coming from Drew?

As I heard the words that Lori Drew said, I felt a level of arrogance, callousness and insensitivity that makes me wonder if she really feels she did no wrong. The mind has a funny way of dealing sometimes, through denial, but my hope is that the reality sets in and haunts Lori Drew for the remainder of her life.

I’m left shaking my head and wondering what was going through this 50-year old woman’s head when she got involved on this level of manipulation laced with malicious desire to wound a 13-year old girl in the manner that she did. R.I.P. Megan though there was no justice gained in the loss of your innocence; the loss of your life.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Bountiful Blooms

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