Charges may be forthcoming in the suicide death of a gay teenager who contributed to the popular online â┚¬Å”It Gets Betterâ┚¬Â anti-bullying video campaign.
Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, was found dead last weekend in his parents' Willaimsville home near Amherst, NY. Amherst police said it's too early to tell whether charges will be filed, but they are investigating the case.
According to the Buffalo News, in the months leading up to Rodemeyer's death, anonymous comments were left on his website that said:
“Kill yourself, you have nothing left,” and “Listen to us, you’re a bad person, you don’t belong here, jump off a bridge or something,â┚¬Â and â┚¬Å”I wouldn’t care if you died. No one would. So just do it 🙂 It would make everyone WAY more happier!” [sic]
He frequently wrote online about being bullied and his suicidal thoughts. His mother told the media her son had been struggling with his sexuality for several months.
She said they sat their son down to ask what was wrong, but he denied any problems. His mother added that Rodemeyer was seeing both a therapist and a social worker.
Williamsville North Principal Petrina Neureuter sent a letter home with students Sept. 19 informing them that Jamey had died, and the district’s crisis team were also at the school.
Lady Gaga was one of Rodemeyer's idols and a frequent topic of his online postings. When news of his suicide was release, the pop singer has vowed online to keep his memory alive via anti-bullying legislation.
Rodemeyer's â┚¬Å”It Gets Betterâ┚¬Â video contribution, posted to YouTube in May of 2011.
