MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — Prosecutors said a 16-year-old from Michigan will be on probation for the next two years after admitting to convincing a teen in Montgomery County to commit suicide.
They said the teens met in an online gaming community, but because they’re both juveniles, they’re not releasing names.
According to the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, the investigation began in January when deputies responded to a suicide call at a home in the Lockeridge Farms subdivision and found the child dead.
They said the teen was wearing a gaming headset and appeared to still be online.
According to prosecutor Stuart Hughes with the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office, the then 15-year-old suspect harassed the victim to the point it drove him over the edge.
Following a lengthy investigation, including interviews with members of an online gaming community in several states, Hughes said they were able to locate the teen suspect who lives hundreds of miles away in Allen Park, Michigan.
Hughes said the teen admitted in a Montgomery County courtroom last Thursday to convincing the victim to commit suicide and took a plea deal, and pleaded true to a felony charge of aiding suicide and a misdemeanor charge of harassment causing death.
According to Pierre Matta, a senior clinical supervisor with Family Houston, for parents concerned about cyberbullying and keeping their kids safe online, he said it begins by being aware and having an open conversation.
"Parents really need to be proactive about trying to understand what games their kids are playing and who they're playing with," Matta said.
Matta said parents can take steps like putting parental controls in place and reaching out to the gaming company for help. He said harassment, especially in the gaming world, is becoming more common.
"That anonymity has really increased the likelihood, coupled with the violent nature of the games, it's really scary how much this is happening," Matta said.
Prosecutors said the teen suspect will remain on probation until he's 18. Part of the conditions he’s ordered to comply with include no online gaming or electronics with internet access and taking a suicide awareness program.