June 6, 2011
Judge Tom
2

Slumber party turns fatal

A slumber party in April, 2011, turned tragic for two Minnesota eighth graders. Paige Moravitz and Haylee Fentress allegedly went through with a suicide pact by hanging themselves.

The girls, who were both 14, left suicide notes for their families. Haylee had recently moved to the area and became best friends with Paige. She complained to her family that she felt ostracized and bullied. Her aunt stated that Haylee felt that she didn’t fit in and was teased about her weight and red hair.

At some point, Paige got into a fight at school. Haylee came to her defense and was expelled. Haylee even added Paige’s last name to her own on a Facebook page. Her letter to her mother included details regarding her funeral. She requested that everything be pink with butterflies and a princess. Haylee’s mother found the girls and attempted to resuscitate them.

Family members of both girls granted interviews on the Today Show. Their mothers also spoke out against bullying and cyberbullying shortly after their passing. They stated that the girls were subjected to online bullying and through text messages. If you’re being bullied or witness bullying at school or anywhere else, don’t remain a bystander. Do something about it such as stepping in if you feel safe doing so or reporting it immediately to an adult. It’s too easy to look away and pretend nothing happened. You can help save a life by taking action.

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Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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2 Comments

  • Oklahoma City Divorce Attorney Matt Ingham
    June 28, 2011 3:22 pm count( 0 )

    Cyberbullying has become a major issue in our society. Legally speaking I am not sure what can be done to address the issue, but the perpetrators cannot be allowed to get off scott free. The family members and close friends of these two girls deserve justice.

  • Mary Schlanger
    June 19, 2011 10:16 pm count( 1 )

    Honestly I have no idea what to say to this. This article has rendered me speechless. It is completely sad. Cyber-bullying is so tragic and so unneeded….. The internet is great but it is also awful.. The internet is like spiders: great in the way that they eat grosser bugs but bad as in the way of creepy and gross!
    You’re right, Mary. As in all things, there is much good in technology but it can also be abused. It’s all about choices. Thanks for writing.