Teen commits suicide after photograph of her 'being gang-raped' goes viral
Published: 2013 April 11 08:29:06 (5661 Views)
A Canadian teenager committed suicide after photos allegedly showing her being gang-raped spread through her school, her family has said.
Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, was found by her mother in the bathroom of their family home in Nova Scotia shortly after she hanged herself.
Her family said her suicide was the result of almost two years of bullying and depression after a photo purporting to show her being raped by four boys went viral and spread through her school in Dartmouth.
The photo of the incident reportedly also included one of the boys present posing with a smile and a thumbs up.
Speaking to CTV News in Canada, Leah Parsons said the attack occurred in November 2011 when her daughter was just 15. After drinking vodka with others at a friend's house, Rehtaeh soon became heavily intoxicated.
"The group began drinking vodka straight. Rehtaeh didn't remember all of it [but] she remembers a guy leading her up the stairs [and] guys taking turns on top of her."
It was then that the boys took pictures of the attack and of her vomiting out the window.
Her mother said severe bullying and trauma following the incident meant Rehtaeh never fully recovered.
According to Ms Parsons, Rehtaeh was repeatedly called a "slut" by fellow pupils and regularly received text messages jokingly asking to sleep with her.
Despite moving schools and to a different community entirely, she continued to suffer from depression and was forced to spend almost six weeks in hospital as she became increasingly suicidal.
She hanged herself on Thursday and was taken off life support by her family on Sunday evening.
The police did not arrest or convict anyone in connection with the incident, citing a lack of evidence.
The incident comes just months after another young Canadian teenager took her own life when a topless picture of her taken when she was just 12 spread over the internet.
Amanda Todd, who died aged 15, spiralled into depression and suffered panic attacks after the stranger who recorded the photo blackmailed and harassed her over the internet.
Following her suicide, a motion was introduced in Parliament urging for a study into the scope of bullying in Canada and to do more to support anti-bullying organisations.
- Telegraph
Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, was found by her mother in the bathroom of their family home in Nova Scotia shortly after she hanged herself.
Her family said her suicide was the result of almost two years of bullying and depression after a photo purporting to show her being raped by four boys went viral and spread through her school in Dartmouth.
The photo of the incident reportedly also included one of the boys present posing with a smile and a thumbs up.
Speaking to CTV News in Canada, Leah Parsons said the attack occurred in November 2011 when her daughter was just 15. After drinking vodka with others at a friend's house, Rehtaeh soon became heavily intoxicated.
"The group began drinking vodka straight. Rehtaeh didn't remember all of it [but] she remembers a guy leading her up the stairs [and] guys taking turns on top of her."
It was then that the boys took pictures of the attack and of her vomiting out the window.
Her mother said severe bullying and trauma following the incident meant Rehtaeh never fully recovered.
According to Ms Parsons, Rehtaeh was repeatedly called a "slut" by fellow pupils and regularly received text messages jokingly asking to sleep with her.
Despite moving schools and to a different community entirely, she continued to suffer from depression and was forced to spend almost six weeks in hospital as she became increasingly suicidal.
She hanged herself on Thursday and was taken off life support by her family on Sunday evening.
The police did not arrest or convict anyone in connection with the incident, citing a lack of evidence.
The incident comes just months after another young Canadian teenager took her own life when a topless picture of her taken when she was just 12 spread over the internet.
Amanda Todd, who died aged 15, spiralled into depression and suffered panic attacks after the stranger who recorded the photo blackmailed and harassed her over the internet.
Following her suicide, a motion was introduced in Parliament urging for a study into the scope of bullying in Canada and to do more to support anti-bullying organisations.
- Telegraph
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