Incidents relating to bullying and bullying-related suicides appeared to dominate the news in 2010. From several tragic suicides to parents embracing vigilantism, 2010 witnessed several prominent cases highlighted in the media. It initially began with the suicidal death of Phoebe Prince case back in January; how have things evolved for Phoebe's family and the teenagers implicated in Prince's bullying?
January 14, 2010, Phoebe Prince commits suicide
On Jan. 14, 2010, fifteen-year-old Phoebe Nora Mary Prince went home from South Hadley High School in Massachusetts, and hung herself in the family stairwell. Phoebe's suicide, attributed to three months of incessant bullying, led to a 10-week investigation that resulted in criminal or juvenile charges being leveled against six students.
In April 2010, the teenagers were formally charged for their alleged involvement in the Phoebe Prince bullying incident. Three of them, all 16-years-old at the time, were charged with several infractions in Franklin-Hampshire Juvenile court. They were:
- Ashley Longe – violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury
- Sharon Chanon Velazquez – violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury and stalking
- Flannery Mullins – violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury and stalking
An additional three students were charged in Hampshire Superior Court and included:
- Sean Mulveyhill (17) – statutory rape; violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury; criminal harassment; disturbance of a school assembly
- Kayla Narey (17) – violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury; criminal harassment; disturbance of a school assembly
- Austin Renaud (18) – statutory rape
The teenagers were consequently suspended from school pending the results of the investigation. So far, all six of them have entered pleas of not guilty. With their lives currently on hold until the trial concludes, not all of them have kept a low profile in the interim.
The defendants await trial as Phoebe's family seeks a resolution
Two teens in particular have courted extra trouble since being charged in the Prince bullying case. On Aug 31, 2010, Ashley Longe was arrested and subsequently charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, being a minor-in-possession and driving under the violation of a license restriction. Longe's arrest followed a similar but separate event involving 18-year-old Austin Renaud. Back in April, Renaud was arraigned in Holyoke District Court for drunken driving. Both Longe and Renaud were placed under a curfew and ordered to refrain from using alcohol or drugs.
The Phoebe Prince case itself meanwhile, is expected to continue in January 2011 and will begin with the trials of juveniles Longe, Chanon Velazquez and Mullins. Those charged in the Hampshire Superior Court – Mulveyhill, Narey and Renaud, are projected to take place sometime after the juvenile cases. It has been reported that prosecutors are lining up between 40-50 witnesses to testify against the teens.
One year on, Phoebe's family is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of the 15-year-old. On Dec. 23, 2010, ABC News reporters Andrea Canning, Jessica Hopper and Anne-Marie Dorning, wrote that the teen's family urges the need to call, "For more awareness about teenage suicide." The ABC article, "Phoebe Prince's Family Speaks Out as One Year Anniversary of Suicide Nears," describes what the Prince's allege was negligence on the part of school officials, and a failure to address bullying issues.
In July 2010, the Princes went one step further and filed a lawsuit naming several prominent members of South Hadley High School for disregarding school policies and procedures, despite being aware of ongoing bullying incidents. The lawsuit, says ABC News at Abcnews.go.com, was withdrawn by the family on Nov. 5, after a settlement was reached. Unfortunately for school officials, events would take another dramatic turn. On Dec. 14, 2010, Masslive.com reported that officials were under Federal investigation for potential wrongdoing in the handling of the Phoebe Prince case.
Sadly, there are no victors once prosecutors meet defense attorneys. Both will place Phoebe Prince and her alleged abusers, firmly under the microscope. As yet-to-be-known details are aired, the trials will be closely followed and reported on by the press. For those forced to bear witness to this alleged case of incessant abuse, one can only hope that any person involved with this bullying ugliness, will realize that its insidious nature can reach far beyond the tragic act of suicide. A short time later In March and May 2010, another two teens took their own lives in as many months, it would prove to be just the beginning.
Since this article was written, lawyers for 19-year-old Austin Renaud on Feb. 10, 2011 filed a motion in Hampshire Superior Court asking the judge to dismiss charges. The lawyers allege that prosecutors failed to define the time, date or place of the alleged sexual assault on Phoebe Prince.
Update March 10, 2011: On March 07, 2011, Judge Mary-Lou Rup ruled that despite limited evidence to suggest that Renaud had sex with Prince, it was enough to support an indictment.
Sources:
Appleton John. "Ashley Longe, Charged in Phoebe Prince Suicide, Faces DUI." Masslive.com. Sept. 09, 2010.
Myfoxboston.com. "Teen Charged in Phoebe Prince Bullying Case Heads to Trial," Oct. 26, 2010.
Note: All sources accessed Dec. 26, 2010.
Elizabeth Batt - Elizabeth Batt is a former large animal nurse, certified NREMT, lover of equines and conservationist.
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