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Mom accused in MySpace cyberbullying case leaving town with family
By Joel Currier
joel.currier@lee.net
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DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Lori Drew will soon leave the neighborhood where she was accused of cyberbullying Megan Meier. Closing on the sale of the home on Waterford Crystal Drive was Thursday, Drew said.

Drew, 49, would not say to where she and her family are moving.

“We’re going temporary for the next few days,” she said. “I honestly don’t know where we’re going after that.”

Two workers were loading household items into a moving truck parked in the Drews’ driveway Thursday afternoon. The living room had been all but cleared out and the garage was mostly empty. The house was listed at $234,900 when it was put on the market in June but the price had been dropped to $229,900.

A federal judge in Los Angeles is expected to rule soon on whether to dismiss charges against Drew of conspiracy and illegally accessing MySpace computers “that she used to inflict emotional distress on a child.”

Drew’s trial date is still set for Oct. 7.

Prosecutors say Drew and others schemed to gain the trust of 13-year-old Megan Meier, a former friend of Drew’s daughter, inventing a teenage boy to befriend Meier on the social networking website MySpace. Then they used information they gained to humiliate Meier, prosecutors said, eventually leading or contributing to her suicide.

When the story of Megan’s suicide became public, the quiet neighborhood was thrust into the spotlight and the Drews were targets of vandalism, including lawn damage, a brick through a window, threatening phone calls and paintball attacks. Bloggers posted their address and pictures of their home online.

Megan’s father, Ron Meier, who lives a few houses down the street, said Thursday he was glad to see the Drews leave.

“I wish they would have left a long time ago,” Meier said. “I can’t believe they stayed there as long as they did.”

Asked her feelings on leaving the Dardenne Prairie neighborhood, Lori Drew said, “It’s 50-50,” declining to elaborate.

Take a look
Prosecutors say Lori Drew and others schemed to gain the trust of 13-year-old Megan Meier, above, a former friend of Drew's daughter, inventing a teenage boy to befriend Meier on the social networking website MySpace. Then they used information they gained to humiliate Meier, prosecutors said, eventually leading or contributing to her suicide.
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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

OldGaDawg wrote on Sep 19, 2008 9:01 PM:

" Usually when someone starts "running" - "Selling there assets - HOMES" .....

....."GUILT"..... Should be there middle name. "

dididothat? wrote on Sep 19, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Wow, so many people have called out others who have lived across from a golf course for many years, but no one will stand up to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen "In Your Town". What a bunch of yuppie wannebes. "

jester wrote on Sep 19, 2008 2:34 PM:

" Hope she does not move next to me-- "
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