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Teen Linked to Cyberbully Case in Psychiatric Hospital; No Charges Filed

By Debra Cassens Weiss

December 3, 2007, 7:36 pm CST

Updated: New facts have emerged in the case of a 13-year-old girl who committed suicide after being romanced and then rejected by an online boy who had been made up. But the prosecutor reviewing the case still says no charges will be filed.

St. Charles County Prosecutor Jack Banas said his office re-examined the case, considering violations of laws barring stalking, harassment and child endangerment. But he told reporters the laws do not apply, the Associated Press reports.

Banas also told reporters today that the fake MySpace page of the boy called Josh Evans was made up by then-18-year-old Ashley Grills of O’Fallon, Mo. Grills was a temporary employee of Drew Advantage, a business run by Lori Drew, the mother of a neighboring girl who had a falling out with 13-year-old Megan Meier, Suburban Journals reported.

Initial reports said Josh Evans was the creation of the Lori and Curt Drew, and that their motive was to find out what Meier was saying about their daughter. But Banas said at the news conference that while Lori Drew and her daughter knew about Grills’ page, Lori Drew was not home the day several messages were sent to Megan through the account, including one that stated, “The world would be a better place without you,” according to Suburban Journals.

Others gained access to the profile, and it is not clear who sent the abusive messages before Megan Meier’s death, Banas said. Grills has been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment, and Banas was not able to interview the teen.

Updated at 3:29 p.m. CST to add more details and coverage.