The one thing bullies don’t consider when abusing their victims is the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, the consequences aren’t simply emotional distress. In some cases, when bullying goes too far, the consequences are much more severe. Some victims have resorted to eating disorders, cutting, and even suicide. In Phoebe Prince’s case, suicide seemed to be her only option.
Phoebe, an Irish immigrant, was a freshman at South Hadley High School. After three month of being tormented by peers via text message and Facebook, Phoebe hung herself on January 14, 2010. It’s reported that in one incidence, a soda can was thrown at her. Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel reported that Phoebe was bullied because of a romantic relationship she was in with one of the male suspect, which had ended only a few weeks prior to her suicide. Most of the bullying occurred on school grounds, where Scheibel said administrators were aware of the bullying, but did nothing to end it.
After her death, nine students were indicted on charges including statutory rape, violation of civil rights with bodily injury, criminal harassment, and stalking. Scheibel reports that the tormenting made it impossible for Phoebe to keep attending classes. She was frequently called an “Irish slut” and “whore,” assumingly because she had dated a senior football player as a freshman. Other students commented that the situation felt like the entire school ganged up on her, repeatedly knocking her books out of her hands, throwing various items at her, and sending threatening messages to her cell phone. Unfortunately, bullies went so far as to post cruel comments on her Facebook memorial page that was created following her tragic death.
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