Kathleen Edward Taunted: Bullying on Facebook Begins after Neighbor's Text Message
It all began in 2010 when Trenton neighbor Jennifer Petkov sent the child's grandmother Rebecca Rose a text message about a birthday party. Reportedly, Rose did not respond fast enough, giving the woman the belief her kids were not invited. This set off a feud that spilled over to Facebook.
Petrov and her husband began to taunt the woman by posting images of skulls, crossbones, and the Grim Reaper on the Internet. In addition, they posted photo shopped images of Kathleen's mother Laura Edwards, who died of Huntington's in 2009.
And long before Kathleen Edward died of Huntington's disease, the Petrovs waged a cyber bullying campaign against the terminally-ill 9-year-old girl, this all because of a feud the child had nothing to do with. Here is an image they posted on Facebook
The police were called in and a restraining order was issued to the neighbors for taunting the little girl on Facebook. Before that, the girl complained that she could not even go outside without being called a "retard" by Jennifer Petkov and her husband. They even rode around in a makeshift hearse (shown here) after Laura Edward died. They repeatedly honked it during the ongoing feud with Rebecca Rose.
She was eventually forced from her home after being sentenced to 18-months probation for assault and battery in an unrelated case. By then, the public returned the favor by taunting her for bullying Kathleen Edward who died from Huntington's disease.
Girl Taunted by Neighbor Dies: What is Huntington's Disease?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition is inherited and is characterized by a progressive degeneration of the brain cells. Over time, it affects one’s ability to make voluntary movements, and function in a competent manner.
When it strikes before the age of 20, it’s called juvenile Huntington’s disease. Sadly, as in the case of Kathleen Edward, who died from the condition, it progresses faster. However, anyone can get the disease at any stage in their life.
Thankfully, the young girl taunted by her neighbors did not suffer before she died. Wednesday, she was surrounded by 30 or more family members before she passed away.
“We whispered in her ear and told her, 'Go be with your mommy.’ She really did have this glow about her. She really looked like an angel laying there, and she opened her eyes and took her last breath. She suffered with this disease for a while and she never complained. She was also happy, always smiling. I didn’t want her to suffer anymore. Now she's with her mother. That's the only consolation in this whole thing is now she's with her mother.” ~ Rebecca Rose on Elizabeth Edward who died of Huntington’s Disease
What are your thoughts in the case about the girl taunted and cyber bullied on Facebook?
Source: examiner
