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Nine teens charged in school bullying suicide of Phoebe Prince

APRIL DREW,

Irish Voice Columnist

Published Monday, March 29, 2010, 12:37 PM

Updated Monday, March 29, 2010, 1:19 PM

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Phoebe Prince killed herself last month after being hounded by bullies at school.

Irish-born Phoebe Prince was bullied badly on Jan. 14, the day she hanged herself. Massachusetts Northwest District Prosecutor Elizabeth Scheiblel charged that the abuse — online and in person — was far greater than had previously been reported.

Six teenagers and three juvenile students were charged with statutory rape, violation of civil rights, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly.

Prince had moved with her family from County Clare in Ireland to South Hadley, MA, where she attended the local high school. After a football player at the school asked her to an annual ball, she became the subject of extreme bullying that ended in her death by suicide two days before the dance.

At today's press conference, Scheibel provided startling new details about the intensity of the bullying that Prince sustained since last fall. She also said that on at least one occasion, a school staffer saw the bullying while Prince was in a school library, but did not report it .

"From information known to investigators thus far, it appears that Phoebe's death on Jan. 14 followed a tortuous day for her, in which she was subjected to verbal harassment and threatened with physical abuse," Scheibel said.

On that day, she said, Prince was harassed while she was studying in the school library around lunch period, as she walked in the hallways near the end of the school day, and as she walked on Newton St. near her home.

"The harassment reported to have occurred that day in the school library appears to have been conducted in the presence of a faculty member and several students, but went unreported to school administrators until after Phoebe's death," Scheibel said.

Even after she died, several students defaced her Facebook condolences page.

On the day of her death, Scheivbel said, a male and two females were involved in behavior that "appears to have been motivated by the group's displeasure with Prince's brief dating relationship with the male student."

It was an especially tragic ending for the Prince family. Anne O'Brien Prince and Jeremy Prince had moved from County Clare to Massachusetts with their five kids in 2009. In Phoebe's death notice, they said they moved in part so "Phoebe could experience America."

Neighbors had long sought justice.

"There needs to be some punishment for those kids (who bullied Prince). They need to be held accountable," said Jeannine O'Brien, a South Hadley mother.

Scheibel's office released this list of those being charged, and the charges they face.

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StandforTruth | Apr 25, 2010, 11:39 PM EDT

What are they gonna get for this..A simple few years in prison? I absolutely detest the modern legal system. What they did in bullying her lead to her suicide, and then they posted malicious crap on her Facebook page. What they did, in my opinion, should deserve life imprisonment. Its basically second degree murder if not first. The fact that they didn't feel regret for their decisions was the most disturbing part for me in reading about this situation. People like that need solitary confinement with no chance of parole for the rest of their lives.

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EveryDayDad | Apr 04, 2010, 01:30 PM 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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mandyNmeesh | Apr 03, 2010, 08:36 PM EDT

How can anybody say that her parents should have changed schools or home schooled her or whatever?? There is NO reason they should have to do that... The so called "school administration" should have done something about this!!! There should have been a stop to it, and if anything, the kids being charged should have been the kids to leave, not Phoebe... The fact that this young beautiful girl was harrassed to the point where she thought death was better then life is insane, and the kids who bullied her and south hadley school teachers/administration should be held fully responsible for not doing part of their job...They are not in a school just to teach, they are there to keep it safe.. The school I went to would not have tollerated this and these kids would have been kicked out of school indefinately and that's what should have happend to these cold hearted teens.. I hope that they all go to jail and that they are not allowed back in any public schools because they don't know how to act!!! And to the people who think its crazy that these kids are facing charges, you need to think about how you would feel if you had reported things like this about your child to the school, and one day you come home to find YOUR CHILD dead... I wish Phoebes family the best!!! RIP Phoebe!!!

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EveryDayDad | Apr 02, 2010, 07:24 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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jorop4333 | Apr 01, 2010, 10:41 AM EDT

ALL involved and who kept quiet in these events (teachers, students, etc.) should be held accountable!!! It is our duty to get involved when "we" see any criminal activity happening!! If you don't want to physically get involved then at least report it!!! If "we" don't, then the bullies and criminals WIN!! My symphathy goes out to the Prince family!

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EricSimmons | Apr 01, 2010, 12:16 AM EDT

TWW is fully commiting to the "STOP CYBER-BULLYING" initiative in memory of Phoebe Prince. Read my blog and show your support by forwarding it to everyone you know. Spread the message & STOP the Cyber-bullying here: http://www.topworldwebsite.com/blog/twweditorsblog/3594

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shello39 | Mar 31, 2010, 01:08 PM EDT

I am appalled that this still goes on nowadays. Teach your kids, people! Stop assuming they are perfect and raise them to be respectful to others! The schools need to take this stuff WAY more seriously than they do and they need to hold girls to the same standards as the boys in regards to behavior!

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KMcSinger | Mar 31, 2010, 11:02 AM EDT

Hopefully these criminal charges will make other bullies stop and think. Yes, this kind of behaviour is criminal and yes, you could go to jail for bullying.

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nnugent1951 | Mar 31, 2010, 09:35 AM EDT

ever stop to think, the school staff member who saw the bulling in the library. If she had done her job and stopped the bulling in the library took all the kids to the principle office. They may have been able to have learned what had been going on in the school. The poor little girl may be alive to day.

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killowen | Mar 31, 2010, 09:05 AM EDT

The Irish lacking a Jewish Anti-defamation like organization will continue being the useful joke for others to rail against. Their catholicism is another feature that figures in this hating reformation protestant Saxon world - notice the attack on the Roman Church. The Saxon world in addition to US includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa ...... Holding sway over all is g-d's own. Draw the hierarchical may thyself. Rest in peace Ms. Prince.

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fechin17 | Mar 30, 2010, 02:30 PM EDT

The parents of these pack animals claim their children are not capable of the offense. A child is dead. They will remember tomorrow, but for how long? Her Mum and Dad will never forget.

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twyla4ever | Mar 30, 2010, 01:03 PM EDT

I am very sorry for her family. She is a beautiful girl so jealousy had to be the reason. Could be nothing else. It is a shame someone with such beauty had to leave so young. I know how she felt. My condolences go out to her family. The world is not all like that. You get a few eggs that make the whole batch go bad. I cried when I read this. It is just not fair and its just not right.

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RhondaJ | Mar 29, 2010, 06:54 PM EDT

As an Irish-American born in America, I am ashamed & angry at the behavior of these teenagers! Phoebe was a beautiful girl and jealousy was apparently the reason; I'm so sorry for her family and I only hope the culprits get life in prison; afterall, they drove someone else to end their life...shame on them; they will live with this forever...I feel sorry for Phoebe's family and the family of those teenagers who participated in this cruel behavior.

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ericalaughlin | Mar 29, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT

The link below has a video of the DA issuing the press release. In the statement, she outlines the facts of what happened in order to separate the truth from mistruths.

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ericalaughlin | Mar 29, 2010, 03:32 PM EDT

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/teens-charged-in-phoebe-princes-death

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