Brandy Vela, 18, shot herself in entrance of her mother and father after being relentlessly cyberbullied. The Texas teen, who was described by her college as well-liked and pleasant, was buried December 7. By Friday, somebody had opened a social media web page in her reminiscence, however it was shortly stuffed with disturbing posts about her; the cyberbullying actually following her to the grave.
Her father is preventing again.
"The continued harassment reported by Mr. Vela is being investigated," Texas Metropolis police Capt. Joe Stanton mentioned. "We at present would not have any suspects or individuals of curiosity recognized."
"Two days after her funeral, anyone opened up a social media web page in her title," Vela mentioned, "and folks thought the household did it, so it began with folks placing honest condolences. After a couple of minutes, both 4 folks or the identical particular person posting 4 instances mentioned some issues harassing Brandy about being a giant fats cow, writing 'you lastly did it' with an image of a gun, writing 'you are a coward,' 'it's best to have achieved this a very long time in the past,' some actually horrific issues."
The Vela household offered screenshots of the posts, however CNN shouldn't be publishing them due to their offensive nature.
One of many posts exhibits a smiling Brandy with the phrases "my face whenever you shoot your self in entrance of your loved ones." One other is a stick determine holding a gun with the phrases, "oops am I lifeless?" A 3rd exhibits a gun hidden inside a e-book.
She says Vela did the suitable factor by reporting the social media pages to authorities.
"When folks really feel emboldened to put in writing imply and hurtful issues about different folks, they're going to simply lengthen it to siblings or households," Swearer mentioned.
Vela, whose household was avoiding social media within the wake of Brandy's loss of life, mentioned the posts had been first delivered to their consideration by mates.
Shortly after the information of Brandy's loss of life broke, folks additionally started attacking Vela on-line, he mentioned.
"Folks had been placing feedback about me saying that I ought to have achieved one thing totally different, so I blocked all of it. I am not studying it anymore," he mentioned.
"They're nonetheless harassing her, however she's not with us, so it is extra like they're harassing me and my household."
Police have informed the Velas that they will have the ability to hint the posts, and the culprits can be prosecuted.
Elevating consciousness
Vela cannot change what occurred to his daughter, so he is making an attempt to steer state lawmakers to extend restrictions on social media, making it tougher for cyberbullies to remain nameless.
He met with native legislators and neighborhood representatives and says they got here up with good concepts, corresponding to offering specialised counseling and psychological well being help at faculties for victims like his daughter.
"Proper now, my job is to lift consciousness. I am not making an attempt accountable folks or level fingers. I need people who find themselves nonetheless being bullied to know that I wish to change issues. I really feel like she put this in my arms to try to get assist for folks in the identical state of affairs. It is unlucky that one thing tragic has to occur to make modifications come," Vela mentioned.
He mentioned he needs each police division within the nation to have at the very least one officer educated to pursue cyberbullying crimes. He referred to as Brandy's loss of life a homicide, saying she was pushed to the breaking level.
"I really feel like these individuals are cowards, these folks hiding behind the texts and pretend pages. They're those who pushed her thus far. She misplaced all her shallowness, misplaced all her self-worth," he mentioned.
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