Rebecca Sedwick Suicide: One Alleged Tormentor 'Saddened' by Death, Another Claims Alibi
The two girls accused of bullying Rebecca Sedwick to the point that she took her own life are now speaking out, through their parents and attorneys, about what happened between them. One of the girls expressed remorse, while another maintains that she had nothing to do with the bullying.
"My client and her family are deeply saddened by Rebecca's death and send their condolences to Rebecca's family. My client's parents are stunned at the events that have transpired. They feel that their daughter is a loving, caring, and supportive young girl with many friends," one of the girls' attorneys said in a statement.
"Since they frequently monitored her and never observed these alleged messages, they did not see a problem to confront. Furthermore, they were unaware of misconduct at school regarding their daughter," the statement concluded.
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Sedwick took her own life on Sept. 10, after reportedly being physically, verbally, and cyber-bullied for two years, possibly over a boy. The situation gained national attention when Sheriff Grady Judd arrested the 12- and 14-year-old girls for "maliciously harassing" Sedwick, booked them, and then released them into the custody of their parents.
The 14-year-old reportedly posted a comment indicting herself in the bullying, which her parents adamantly deny. They maintain that their daughter's account was hacked, even though, according to CNN, investigators do not believe the Facebook account was tampered with.
"Yes I bullied Rebecca and she killed herself, but I don't give a (expletive)," the post read.
However, the girl's father, known only as Jose, told CNN that there was no way his daughter could have posted anything to her Facebook account. He sent his daughter to bed at approximately the same time the message was posted to the account.
"I grabbed the computer and took it to my room," Jose said, "and the only other thing she could have used to send this message was this cell phone, and my cell phone is always with me."
Sheriff Judd told ABC News that he was serious about Sedwick's death and the bullying that went along with it. Not only was he investigating the girls' actions but also those of the parents.
"If I could, they would already be in jail," he said on Wednesday. "But I can tell you this, that we're keeping our options open. The charge would be contributing to the delinquency of a minor. When the parents don't take care of the children and it becomes criminal conduct, then it becomes my responsibility, and my deputies and I know how to take control."
