11-year-old boy's suicide a result of cruel "social media prank," mom says

[groundloop]

Source: CBS News

A mother is speaking out about the tragic death of her 11-year-old son, who, she says, decided to end his own life as a result of a cruel “social media prank.”

The boy, Tysen Benz of Marquette, Michigan, died Tuesday at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor after spending three weeks on life support following a suicide attempt on March 14.

His mom, Katrina Goss, told CBS News on Thursday that her son was “manipulated” and “pranked” by a 13-year-old girl, who is not being identified because she’s a minor.

“She told him she was going to kill herself and used other friends’ social media accounts to put forth further fake proof that she did so,” Goss claims. “He even said he was going to kill himself and she didn’t make any attempt to call me or someone else to try to stop him. [His death] should never have happened.”

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mom-says-social-media-prank-led-to-11-year-old-sons-suicide/

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Further down in the article it states that the prosecutor may be filing charges of malicious use of telecommunication services and using a computer to commit a crime.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

1. Terrible...

[Chasstev365]

2. Very Sad. I am so sorry for the family!

[MontanaMama]

3. I sincerely hope charges are filed.

Are psychopaths multiplying? What is happening???? What kind of parents are raising children who can do this to another child?

This is heartbreaking. My son is 11 years old too. My heart aches for this boy's mother.

[GWC58]

4. I too have an 11 year old

son. This is sick & twisted on so very many levels. This girl MUST be held to account. Her youth is no excuse!

[elehhhhna]

8. Flame away but she is a clearly fucked up kid.

This shit doesn't happen in a vacuum.

[Drahthaardogs]

13. Yes, but mom had no control over her own son either.

You don't "ask" them to break off a relationship at age 11. You make them.


There are lots of fucked up people you can't control. You make sure you can control your own.

[elehhhhna]

15. I agree in principal. But having dealt with parents of teens in recovery, I've learned

That we are good at denial, great at blaming everyone else, and shockingly out of the loop when our kids are up to shady nefarious shit. My kid was a 4.9 student before using, while using, and after rehab (which she entered at 14). And we were lucky. Shes sober 6 years and still 4.0

She;s buried 9 friends from her recovery peer group in 4 years. And there will be more to come.

[Drahthaardogs]

16. An 11 year old should not have unlimited access to a cell phone

They are not mature enough, nor wise enough. Kids do stupid shit. Love the hell out of them but don't trust them. Their minds don't work like an adult. There is a reason we don't let them vote, buy booze, or even a pack of cigarettes.

[cab67]

5. I was bullied pretty badly as a kid.

I'm approaching 50, and it still affects me. None of it was cyberbullying, the internet not existing for civilians at the time - and based on what I've seen and read, I'm deeply grateful for that.

I don't know what kind of punishment would be appropriate for a 13 year old, but surely the parents can be held accountable.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. The Dutch man who killed Amanda Todd by social media will be extradited to Canada to face charges

He is already facing an 11 year sentence in Holland.

[shenmue]

7. ...

[iluvtennis]

9. OMG, how horrific. Our kids are so susceptible nowadays with social media

[GeorgeGist]

10. Here's a link to a story written by a journalist ...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/michigan-mom-son-killed-social-media-prank-article-1.3024221

[sueh]

11. Oh my god...this terrible. My heart goes out to this mother and her family and all who knew him..

[IronLionZion]

12. Whatever happened to calling someone names or throwing water balloons

or similar types of pranks that are relatively harmless?

This is a deep level of depravity. The girl should have some counseling and they should investigate if she's being abused. Kids don't normally want each other to die this badly. Something is off.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Poor little boy!

What a horrible thing to do to somebody! I wish somebody could have been there for him before he decided to take such a drastic action. I can't believe what young children go through these days. When I was that age, life was so simple and innocent. I feel sorry for these children that go through such things without the social support they need to endure these difficulties.