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Mother of accused in Phoebe Prince suicide defends daughter

By
JANE WALSHE,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 10:14 AM
Updated Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 11:10 AM

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South Hadley High School


The mother of a student charged in the Phoebe Prince suicide case has denied her daughter had any ill will towards her. The mother of Sharon Chanon Velazquez stated she came from a home of  "strong values.”

She told the Boston Herald her daughter was suspended after an argument with the Irish-born Phoebe a month before her suicide.

“She exchanged a couple of words with her,” said Angeles Chanon. “My daughter never fought with her or said, ‘Go harm yourself,’ or ‘I hate you.’”

Sharon Chanon Velazquez, 16, broke down when she learned she had been indicted in the case yesterday. She was charged as a youthful offender with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury.

“We have strong values, and I don’t like injustice, and injustice includes bullying or being racist,” her mother said, stating that she grounded the teen at the time of the altercation in addition to the school suspension.

“Phoebe was calling her names. They’re teenagers. They call names,” Chanon said. “She did not physically assault (her). I know she knows better than that. I wouldn’t accept that.

“She didn’t do any of those things, but I guess we have to fight,” Chanon said. “My daughter is not a violent kid.

“It’s very unfortunate to know what happened to that girl. I can hardly imagine what that family is going through and is still going through,” she added.

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36 Comments

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adrienrain | May 20, 2010, 05:45 PM EDT
The Mafia has strong family values, too. As parents, we must teach compassion, as well as assertiveness. The problem is that, apparently, there isn't much real compassion in our society. We are happy to demonize whole classes of people, including poor people, foreigners, non-beautiful people, and so on. Adults do this. And it rubs off on their kids, who act out in ways adults wouldn't dare to do. But the whole thing might have been stopped if the teachers hadn't looked the other way - passive aggressive participation. It is the one element that must be present for bullies to be successful. I'd be interested in knowing more about the involved families' class and financial status vis a vis Phoebe's family. Might be a clue.

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EveryDayDad | Apr 04, 2010, 02:22 AM EDT
IN MY STATE, ALL JMIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE A COP ON CAMPUS ALL DAY TO DETER AND ARREST REAL VIOLENCE. (THEY HAVE THEIR OWN OFFICE AND ARE WEAPONED AND UNIFORMED). FIGHTS AND TEASING CONTINUE JUST LIKE IT WAS IN THE 60'S AND 70'S WHEN I WAS K-12. THIS WORLD, THE ADULTS WHO RUN IT, THE WEB AND MEDIA ARE BROADCASTING "JUSTIFIABLE" VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE. LETS NOT "JUSTIFY" SUICIDE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. WE NEED OUR KIDS TO LIVE. OBVIOUSLY, NONE OF THE KIDS COMMITTED A "REAL CRIME" PRIOR TO PHOEBE TAKING HER LIFE OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. I PROMISE THE STAFF AT HADLEY/ANY SCHOOL WOULD HAVE MADE SURE OF THIS (OBVIOUS BY THE DA'S DECISION NOT TO PERSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE STAFF). NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYONE WANTS TO CONVICT THESE SUPPOSED "BULLY'S" FOR PHOEBE TAKING HER OWN LIFE. WRONG MESSAGE PEOPLE. IM HAPPY THESE UNFORTUNATES WILL GO TO COURT BUT HARDLY SEE A CONVICTION FORTHCOMING AND IF IT DOES, ALL THE BETTER. AS A PARENT, ITS OUR JOB FIRST AND FOREMOST TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. BE IN THEIR DAILY LIFES. VISIT THEIR SCHOOLS, SIT THROUGH A DAY OF SCHOOL. ITS YOUR RIGHT. IF YOU SEE YOUR KID DEPRESSED TALK WITH THEM. SEEK HELP. MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY. LETS NOT LOSE ANOTHER KID OR JUSTIFY SUICIDE WHICH IS THE MESSAGE ALL OF THIS IS GIVING. YOU OWE IT TO YOUR KIDS. WE WORK TO HARD TO RAISE THEM TO SET THEM FREE IN THIS WORLD OF HATE AND VIOLENCE.

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EveryDayDad | Apr 04, 2010, 02:04 AM EDT
IN RESPONSE TO MICHEAL COLLINS - When it comes to protecting/HELPING my kids IN EXTEME CONDITIONS, AS A PARENT I AM IT. PERIOD. IF I HAVE TO SIT IN SCHOOL WITH MY KIDS, I DO IT. I POLLED MY KIDS OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY JOINED A MOTOCROSS RACE TEAM. NOT FOR DISCPLINE, NOT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAD PROBLEMS. THEY ARE BACK IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND YES ITS A HARSH ENVIRONMENT BUT LOOK AT THE WORL WE ADULTS HAVE CREATED. MURDER AND CORRUPTION EVERYWHERE. VIOLENCE AND SEX ON TV EVERYWHERE - EVAN THE CARTOONS! I LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY I NEVER HEARD OF PHOEBE BEFORE. EVERY SUICIDE IS A MAJOR TRAGEDY. WHAT SUICIDE DOESNT HAVE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS? WHAT IM HEARING FROM MOST HERE IS DELIVERING A DANGEROUS MESSAGE TO KIDS EVERYWHERE, "THAT SUICIDE IS JUSTIFIABLE UNDER SOME CONDITIONS." I REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND WILL ARGUE THAT TO THE END WITH MY OWN KIDS. LETS KEEP IT REAL AND KEEP OUR KIDS ALIVE PEOPLE. DONT JUSTIFY SUICIDE IN ANY WAY. SEEK HELP, CHANGE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS. WE WILL JUST LOSE MORE KIDS TO SUICIDE. KNOW YOUR KIDS ENVIRONMENT (GO TO SCHOOL ONCE IN A WHILE - ITS YOUR RIGHT) IF ITS NOT HEALTHY FOR THEM. LIFE IS NOT A JOHN MAYER SONG, QUIT "WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE." IT'S GETTING WORSE. ITS AMAZING HOW A BULLY'S ATTITUDE CHANGES WHEN THEY SEE A PARENT WITH THEIR CHILD AT SCHOOL. TRY IT ONCE AND SEE. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE. I DO HOPE THESE BULLYS GET IN TROUBLE AND DELIVER A STRONG MESSAGE THAT BULLYING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE THE ADULTS HAVE CREATED A CRUEL WORLD WITH SENSLESS KILLING AND WARS. WATCH TV, NOTHING BUT SEX AND VIOLENCE - EVEN THE CARTOONS. PARENTS NEED TO HAVE LESS FEAR AND LESS FAITH AND NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE ACTION AND GET INVOLVED. GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR KID ONCE IN A WHILE. LET THE BULLYS KNOW YOUR KIDS HAS A SOLID LOVING PARENT BEHIND THEM. I JUST HOPE MY KIDS EVER TAKE THEIR LIFE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. SUICIDE IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.

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nancy01984 | Apr 03, 2010, 12:56 PM EDT
FOR CHANON: Are you for real? You say that your daughter was suspended from school and grounded by you because of her mistreatment of Phoebe. Then you say she is not guilty of any mistreatment of Phoebe. Which is it? Clearly your precious terrorist was a ringleader of this group. Did you take away her computer and cell phone? Did yu refuse to give them back to her? Obviusly not. If my child had ever been accused of such a thing, I would be too ashamed to leave the house, let alone go national trying to defend her. YOU, madam, are going to have to pay to have this little mutant defended in criminal court and then YOU will have to pay another attorney to defend YOU in a civil suit! There will never be justice for Phoebe or the Prince Family, not until God makes his decision when these mutants finally die. They should live ever afraid of HIS justice! FOR EVERYDAYDAD: YOU are ashamed to be Irish? Well, we are ashamed to have to claim YOU! I would like to see every Irish-American Club in this country get together and demand justice for Phoebe by advocating that the bullies be tried under Hate-Crime Laws! Blaming Phoebe for killing herself is like blaming a plane passenger for dying in a plane crash; I mean, after all, she COULD have picked a different flight! SHAME ON YOU! Kayla Narey (Levreault), Flannery Mullins, Sean Mulveyhill, Sharon Chanon Valaszquez, Austin Renaud, Ashley Longe, and others are TERRORISTS; they AND their parents should be placed on the Terrorist Watch List! If you need proof that there is true evil in the world, just look at these abusers and their parents and friends. Those kids should have been strangled at birth. By the way, Kayla is still posting on Facebook, is complaining that she might have to change her name--again, and is a supporter of the I Support Dan Smith (the principal) fan club! Wow! She sure has learned her lesson!!!

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msheffield | Apr 03, 2010, 03:44 AM EDT
Every parent wants to think that their son or daughter is an angel but most aren't. I wasn't bullied in school but my heart goes out to Phoebe's family because they still have to see the people who hurt their daughter so much, she killed herself.

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dvsean4 | Apr 02, 2010, 11:45 PM EDT
you havent learned of america yet... its not racist when the victim is white

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michealcollins | Apr 02, 2010, 10:59 PM EDT
In response to Everydaydad, if the administration and teachers had have been doing their jobs, this would have been avoided. To turn this around and blame the mother is beyond comprehension. Are you a friend of one of the accused? Furthermore, bullying doesn't mean physical force being applied. Verbal abuse is as bad as being physically abused. "These kids accused should be let off"? Where is the logic in that? So they are not to be held responsible? Talk about lecturing on bad choices. You have made several here. Im ashamed to be Irish?????? Sorry I don't follow the logic here either. By the way having been born and raised in Belfast before immigrating, I've had some experience with bullies and their words hurt just as much as their fists, boots and rifle butts

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meowmix | Apr 02, 2010, 09:04 PM EDT
EveryDayDad, you are correct, school is not for babysitting purpose and yes in fact it is for LEARNING. Therefore, what do you say to the individuals that used the "learning" environment as thier play ground? What exactly were these individuals "learning", how to be a tyrant, how to be Adolf Hitler, Vlad the Impaler or even Nero? Well, that's the road these individuals were going down and if not dealt with, they will just pusht he envelope the next time around, because I am sure she is not the first or the last individual they will "bully". You look at one set of parents in this matter, but what about the parents of the "bullies" what was there roles in all of this, what is there home life like that their children walk around taking out anger on other individuals, maybe a light needs to be shined on them because remember, abuse is a learned behavior, that's a fact. So, I wonder, what are they being taught by their parents. The two males are being charged with statutory rape and yes, I know this charge is sometimes use to trap young men for their stupidity. However, what examples are these males being shown, cause obviously something's going on there too. So, before you shine a light on one, please remember shine it on all, unless of course you are a parent of one of the accused or a friend.

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EveryDayDad | Apr 02, 2010, 07:10 PM EDT
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Phoebe's Mom was aware of the harassment and that it was growing. Why would you continue to take your child to such an environment. They had choices. They could have home-schooled, changed schools, the choices are limitless. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (other kids bullying), the power to change the things I can (home or other school) and the wisdom to know the difference (well, they missed this one all together and now it's too late). A sad sad tragedy. Phoebe made a bad choice that cost her her life. If Phoebe had more support and action-based involvement from her parents her death may have avoided. Teasing and getting teased or "Bullied" which to me involved physical force is a part of growing up just like losing a job, a wife or other significant loss. These kids accused should be let off. They will not forget that society is pointing the finger at them. This could lead to more suicides if it continues. Nothing's going to bring Phoebe back and she did kill herself alone. Bad choice Phoebe. If anything, I think her parents should be charged with child endangerment resulting in death for continuing to force Phoebe to go to that school. School is not a daycare people, its a learning environment. If your kids not in an environment they can learn in, change it, don't use public schools as your baby sitter so you can sit home on the couch or make what (money???). Alot of good that does her now. Rest in Peace Phoebe.

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dv727dv | Apr 02, 2010, 12:23 PM EDT
How trendy--the vermin spawn of this bottom feeder has a hyphonated name. She must be a girl for the new millenium. 1. I could not care less if the rodent "broke down" when she learned she was indicted. Think piggie wondered if Phoebe's sister "broke down" after Sharon the Innocent Angel and her band of excrement "accomplished" their task?? How about when emergency crews CUT down her lifeless body?? Piggie here probably got more excited than when she did whatever with her star football guy. If she fainted after vomiting blood and urinating herself, I may be impressed. 2. The Loser Spawn of Satan had previously been suspended....OH, I ALMOST FORGOT...in a display of "Tough Love." Angeles the Almighty and All-Loving also GROUNDED her. Color me impressed beyond human comprehension!!! I wonder if Kayla, Flannery, and the rest of the feral ones hung with their BFF while "grounded." After all, to not allow that would have been .....inhuman (yeah, I know...they already were NOT human, but ...) I'm also sure Angeles the Strong-Valued Antibully and Antiracist (except for "Irish Sluts"....they don't count)thought it would have been downright ABUSIVE to take the reptile's cell phone, IPod, or computer. Angeles will soon be on the talk show circuit. Think it has an agent yet. TLC can have a new show--"Angeles and Satan Plus....." It'll rant about her Innocent Angel's legal fees, not to mention both womb provider (note I did NOT say "mother") and spawn will HAVE to have new clothes for all of those Court appearances. I hope Phoebe's family sues this pond scum into abject poverty. I hope Angeles is shunned EVERYWHERE it goes--right down to getting that nasty look at the 7-11 when buying a microwave snack. Lastly, I hope we here "Whatever Happened To..." about it 25 years from now and it's squatting in a cardboard box under a bridge and foraging dumpsters for near edible "food."

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OhCaroline | Apr 01, 2010, 11:49 AM EDT
Absolutely, Battlefront. "...THAT GIRL...?" That's how THAT MOTHER refers to her daughter's victim?? Yeah, I can just imagine the kind of 'values' she instilled!

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CLoghry1938 | Apr 01, 2010, 08:45 AM EDT
Doesn't this mother realise that abuse is not always physical? Mental abuse is sometimes far worse than physical. Do these Values she espouses include bilittiing others?

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maltfalcon | Apr 01, 2010, 12:31 AM EDT
she is a slut . I hope they put her in prison for her life. her mom is a slut to if she raised a daughter like that . I hope they both burn in hell

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savvylady | Mar 31, 2010, 11:04 PM EDT
Bravo sararas!!!

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sararas | Mar 31, 2010, 08:40 PM EDT
Wow. What an unbelievably stupid bxtch. Not only is she naive about the monster she dropped from her legs, she's actually making excuses for it. Those "harmless" words OBVIOUSLY aren't really harmless, and that girl should be grounded. I'm not sure what "strong values" she thinks she instilled in her daughter, but they apparently don't include refraining from participation in criminal hen-pecking. It's not just an exchange of words if one person is outnumbered.

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