Two Florida preteens arrested for cyberbullying after student hangs herself

Updated

Two 12-year-olds in Florida were charged with cyberstalking after one of their classmates committed suicide earlier this month.

Local police announced on Monday that the death of 12-year-old Gabriella Green on Jan. 10 led to the arrests of the two preteen suspects, according to the Northwest Florida Daily.

Gabriella reportedly hung herself in a closet at her family home with a dog leash after receiving harassing messages from the two students. Authorities did not release the names of the students in question because they are minors.

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According to the local paper, the arrests were made after authorities reviewed several cell phones and social media accounts once they were made aware of potential cyberbullying against Gabriella.

Panama City Beach officials interviewed both suspects with their parents' permission and said both confessed to cyberbullying Gabriella.

“[The suspect’s] actions consisted of starting rumors of the victim having sexually transmitted diseases, vulgar name-calling … and threats to ‘expose’ personal and sensitive details of the victim’s life,” the police report stated, according to the Florida Times Union.

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The local outlet also reported that the other minor linked in connection to Gabriella's suicide allegedly encouraged the young girl to take her own life.

“[He] responded by saying something to the effect of, ‘If you’re going to do it, just do it,’ and ended the call,” the report continued. “He immediately regretted that statement, and began calling and text-messaging her, but did not receive a response.”

However, investigators said it remains unclear whether cyberbullying was the sole cause of Gabriella's death.

Gabriella’s mother called the arrests “gratifying,” according to the Northwest Florida Daily. But she also added that more needed to be done to prevent cyberbullying.

“It’s going to help others at her school,” she said. “It’s going to start at her school. It’s going to help others around the world.”

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