Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sheriff: Cyberbullying Led to Girl’s Suicide

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Facebook.com
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating the role of cyberbulling in the suicide of a 12-year-old girl, the Lakeland Ledger reports.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Rebecca Ann Sedwick apparently jumped to her death after being terrorized online. Judd said that some of the girls who may have been involved in the social-media bullying have  been identified, and that parents are cooperating  by turning over laptops and cell phones.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.