Authorities Investigating Death of Bullied Teen

Amanda Todd found dead after telling bullying story on YouTube
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 17, 2012 7:45 AM CDT

Canadian authorities have opened a probe into the death of Amanda Todd, a 15-year-old who posted a YouTube video describing years of bullying, then apparently committed suicide little more than a month later. Amanda described in the video being pressured to show her breasts to a man online. He took a photo, posted it online, and sent it to everyone Amanda knew; the photo even followed her as she moved towns and schools, she said in the video. Authorities won't say if they're looking for that man, but want to talk to "anyone that had contact with her" before she was found dead in her British Columbia home town a week ago, ABC News reports. Authorities are not officially calling it a suicide, but have ruled out foul play and say the death was not suspicious.

Amanda described in the video how the photo led to cyberbullying and bullying at school—and then depression and anxiety, drug and alcohol use, self-harm, and even a suicide attempt. She told one specific story of being beat up by a girl after she "hooked up" with the girl's boyfriend. "She threw me to the ground and punched me several times," Todd wrote on a cue card she held up in the video. "Kids filmed it. I was all alone and left on the ground." She said she "wanted to die so bad" when her father found her, then drank bleach and was rushed to the hospital; students continued to bully her over the incident and suggest she drink bleach again. Hacking collective Anonymous yesterday revealed the man it says took Todd's photo—click for more on him. (More Amanda Todd stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X