The administrator of a website that used photos of Rehtaeh Parsons to advertise online dating is apologizing and has taken down his website, saying the use of the girl's image was a mistake . The two who were in the photo and took the photo, respectively, are both now 20; one pled guilty to manufacturing child pornography and the other to distributing it. She was an amazing artist. The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, applauded the progress in the case and said Rehtaeh's death was a terrible tragedy that touched people across Canada. It has been sent. At today's sentencing, he said posing for the "sexually degrading" photo and texting it to two people warranted a harsher penalty. And this was how the notorious picture of Rehtaeh Parsons naked from the waist down, hanging out a window after she'd thrown up, unaware that the half-naked boy behind her was looking over his. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. The day after she discovered the photo, she formed a suicide plan and came close to putting it in effect, ex-plaining that she couldn't see another option. I thought she died. Rehtaeh's death has been compared to similar cases in the United States, including 15-year-old California girl Audrie Pott, who hanged herself after her family says she was sexually assaulted by friends and a photo surfaced online. This page was last edited on 14 December 2022, at 08:33. "I am truly sorry. A photo of the rape Continue reading Rehtaeh Parsons Case Solved By Anonymous In . Police in April said a person had provided new information in the Parsons case and was willing to identify the suspects. Sort by: Most popular Bullying Kills I had bruises on the insides of my thighs and my entire pelvic area. Everybody has a right to know, in all honesty, even a young offender. Rehtaeh Parsons was raped by four boys at a party. Consent is key. He admitted to sharing the picture of himself and the girl, that was taken during a small house party at his home in November 2011, and was given 12 months probation by a court in Nova Scotia. Following the sentencing, members of Halifax anonymous wearing Guy Fawkes masks yelled at the young man's supporters as they left the courthouse. Rehtaehs story is well documented in the media. The conclusion to Leah Parsonss Facebook post is heartbreaking. Parsons' parents have called it rape. Yeah, it's an oddly-worded headline. "She's dead now. If these boys had not taken pictures of their assault, what would they be charged with? Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a1aa1346911fa80a19d61cea02e4d757" );document.getElementById("gd89858695").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Parsons attempted to hang herself two years later and suffered severe brain damage. This, of course, brings into question what the RCMP, with their greater (legal) resources, have in terms of evidence. Thank you for sharing and thank you for staying strong for Rehtaeh spreading the word on cyber bullying, getting laws changed, providing resources for the sexually abused, and much much more. The legacy of Rehtaeh Parsons In the 5 years since her tragic death, the image of the alleged rape of the Nova Scotia teenager has sparked outrage, reviews, and new laws but also an awakening. When a girl ends her life after two years of slut-shaming and harassment, including watching photos of her attack spread around Facebook and her high school, people dont forget so easily. Rehtaehs case is yet another sad reminder of the power of social media to stretch a moment of sexual violence into a years-long ordeal that destroys a teenagers life. The girl we couldn't names attacker whom we also can't name as he is also underage to be sentenced today for not being the dead kid in a picture we can't show you. 2023 Miss Millennia Magazine Privacy Policy Splendor Theme by Restored 316, The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. The outrage over. Please contact Crisis Services Canada or your local mental health hotline. Rehtaeh Parsons killed herself after she said she had been raped and bullied (Facebook) Hacktivist group Anonymous has threatened to release the names of four boys accused of . ", Listing mitigating factors in the case, his lawyer said the man became well known after Anonymous activists in Halifax publicized his name. 35 reviews. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. cyberbullying legislation allows victims to sue", "New cyberbullying law can force removal of intimate images online", BILL NO. In November, Lenehan handed a second young man, who snapped the photo, a conditional discharge. In 2012, another Canadian teen, Amanda Todd, committed suicide after a tormenter coaxed her into flashing her breasts on a teen videochat site, then harassed and blackmailed her for years by sharing X-rated images of her across the Internet. [6] The teenagers were drinking vodka at a small party. The boy I was set up with raped me. Perhaps we should consider a disclaimer. I just saw the episode about Rehtaeh on ID. In addition to her parents, she left behind two darling sisters, Temyson and Teaghan, who both live in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia with Leah. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan . Neither was given any jail time. She was transferred from Cole Harbour District High School, to Dartmouth High School, to Prince Andrew High School to Citadel High School. A photo of her rape soon began circulating online. After she was born I spent the next seven years in university and she was my driving force. said Parsons was drinking at a house party with the two other teens in November, 2011, when one of the . Today, Rehtaeh's mother Leah Parsons said she was relieved the ban was lifted. But there is a problem with how we stigmatize nudity, especially that of young women. She checked herself into a hospital for six weeks as she struggled to cope with the fallout from the attack. Please try again later. Miss Millennia Magazine LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When Rehtaeh was born I dedicated everything to her and promised her the world. Her parents lobbied NS Justice Minister Lena Diab to lift the ban so her story could be publicized. The Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. [35] In response, Parsons' father, Glen Canning, accused Blatchford of victim blaming and argued, "The two boys involved in taking and posing for the photograph stated Rehtaeh was throwing up when they had sex with her. [3] Her death has been attributed to online distribution of photos of an alleged gang rape that occurred 17 months prior to her suicide, in November 2011. This attempt was apparently thwarted by school authorities. [32][33] Parsons has been described as a "victim of sexting". We want to make sure you are financially fit, healthy and making excellent life decisions. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Blatchford calls that "a courageous challenge to the public narrative" around the case and calls the teen "brave." When Rehtaeh Parsons died following a suicide attempt, a national conversation was sparked on how people address sexual assault and consent. (The police said they didn't have enough evidence to charge them with sexual assault; they also waited 10 months to investigate. She stated: The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. [8], A year following the alleged rape, the RCMP concluded an investigation stating, "[an] investigation into an earlier sexual assault was completed, and in consultation with the Crown, there was insufficient evidence to lay charges". Update:2 arrests made in Rehtaeh Parsons rape case. No. He put me in his parents car where I slept. She made my life complete. Her parents said she was sexually assaulted when she was 15 years old and then bullied relentlessly for more than a year. 35 Rehtaeh Parsons Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 35 Rehtaeh Parsons Premium High Res Photos Browse 35 rehtaeh parsons stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. We were in the groove.". [19] Canning said that Parsons was strip-searched by two men while receiving treatment in 2012 at the IWK, while the IWK denied the allegations.[19]. On April 15, the group was deactivated, but not before organizing a counterprotest and postering in real life, in the fashion of the Westboro Baptist Church, setting up across the street from a pro-Rehtaeh demonstration and sticking posters in front of the Parsons house. It is about having control over someones body. In March, 21-year-old Dennis Warrington was finally sentenced to 18 months probation, but no jail time, for his role in distributing the pictures. Dont worry, we wont send spam! Nothing was done about that because they couldnt prove who had pressed the photo button on the phone, Parsons told the Herald. She was a straight-A student. They gave no thought at all to her. As a result, "he has to likely move away.". "You should have been crying when she was alive," the judge told him. Never has the message been so powerful than Caitlin Staseys (ofReign)Herself,a feminist website that features not only nude photographs of women but also in-depth interviews with each participant. Rehtaehs former school, Cole Harbour District Highschool, did not support or even acknowledge her when she needed them the most. Theres something so powerful and beautiful about that. Earlier this month, Emma Holten, a victim of revenge porn released by a spiteful waste-of-life ex-boyfriend, released her own nude photos and started the Consent Project. The 20-year-old, whose case was made famous thanks to an Anonymous campaign, will be getting 12 months probation. Its about highlighting the facts of that night. The consequences of these actions are severe. [34], On April 26, 2013, Christie Blatchford wrote in the National Post that a problem in the case was that one of Parsons' friends claimed Parsons was "flirtatious" on the night the photo was taken, was seen laughing in bed with two boys and also there were "accounts from Rehtaeh herself and independent evidence, including retrieved online messages, that supported the suggestion the sex that took place was consensual." The pre-sentence report says the man cried when he learned Parsons had been taken off a life-support machine after she slipped into a coma due to a suicide attempt. The teen's family said she was tormented for months after a digital photo of the alleged November, 2011 gang rape was circulated around her school. He's looking at the camera and giving a thumbs-up. Shes looking into the camera. Legend: TikToker parodied pharmaceutical company and said it was lowering the price of insulinthe company actually did it, The Mandalorian season 3 brings it back to basics, The Mandalorian finally explains what happened to Cara Dune after Gina Caranos firing, Finally my coffee will be right: Customer makes her own coffee order at self-serve Dunkin Express, *First Published: Apr 9, 2013, 5:04 pm CDT. The underlying reasons for it - the drugs, the sex, the bullying, whatever she might've had going on before the party in question - are much larger than any one individual. [18][19] One conclusion of the report was that Nova Scotian schools "need to do a better job preventing harassment and sexual aggression". [37][38], That law was quashed in 2015 by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court who ruled the law's definition of cyberbullying was too wide and infringed on Charter rights and freedom of expression. never seized any of the boys phones, computers, or hard drives. I can only agree that these two and other unnamed men complicit in this heinous crime should pay dearly for their actions. "[27] Rehtaeh's funeral on April 13 was attended by 500 people, including Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who said he came "first and foremost as a father trying to imagine what kind of incredible, unfathomable grief could be visited upon a family. And of course, theres backlash. Did you know she had two little sisters that she adored? Anonymous says they know who Rehtaeh Parsons' rapists are, providing a little extra "incentive" for Canadian authorities to re-open the case themselves. I got extremely messed up. Canadian police have yet to convict a single person in the case of Amanda Todd, despite a detailed trail of online evidence. The Halifax-area teen committed suicide after allegedly being gang rape. "Rehtaeh Parsons case prompts scrutiny of police, prosecution procedures", "Rehtaeh Parsons Suicide: Justice Minister Revisiting Alleged Rape Case", Rehtaeh Parsons case to be reopened by police, "Young man enters guilty plea in high-profile Nova Scotia child porn case", "No jail time in high-profile child pornography case in Halifax", "No jail for Canadian man over photo of alleged sex assault", "Second young man pleads guilty in Rehtaeh Parsons case", "Second man sentenced in Rehtaeh Parsons case gets probation", "Rehtaeh Parsons case: Teen in explicit photo gets probation", CH: "Rehtaeh Parsons report: Review IWK, Capital Health programs", therecord.com: "Rehtaeh Parsons cyberbullying report calls for hospital review", ottawasun.com: " Rehtaeh Parsons report calls for changes to Nova Scotia curriculum", theobserver.ca: "Rehtaeh Parsons report calls for changes to Nova Scotia curriculum", macleans.ca: "Review: Crown decision in Rehtaeh Parsons case was reasonable>, cbc.ca: "Rehtaeh Parsons report makes 17 recommendations", globalnews.ca: "Rehtaeh Parsons report prompts review of how school boards deal with police>, ctvnews.ca: "Report provides validation for family of Rehtaeh Parsons", Rehtaeh Parsons' mom calls for vigilantes to stop, Stephen Harper 'sickened' by Rehtaeh Parsons story, Friends, family, dignitaries attend Rehtaeh Parsons funeral, "Rehtaeh Parsons Suicide: Web Calls On Anonymous To Act After Nova Scotia Teen's Death (UPDATE: Anonymous Responds)", 'Anonymous' won't release names of Rehtaeh Parsons suspects, Bullying blamed in death of Nova Scotia teen, "U.S. teen's death eerily similar to Rehtaeh Parsons' story - Nova Scotia - CBC News", "3 U.S. teens arrested for sexual battery after girl's suicide - World - CBC News", "Rehtaeh Parsons case: RCMP worried posters supporting 4 boys could incite vigilantism", "Christie Blatchford: Why there may never be a case against the alleged Rehtaeh Parsons rapists", "Cyberbullying law inspired by Rehtaeh Parsons' suicide takes effect", "N.S. Regardless of whether they were willing participants in these images or victims of sexual assault, they are shamed. She got drunk, and while vomiting out of a window, she was allegedly raped while other people took photographs. Now that the court case is over, former Ontario chief prosecutor Murray Segal is free to conduct his independent review of how police handled Rehtaeh's case. There was an error trying to send your message. It recommended that the Halifax Regional School Board clarify the transfer approval process between schools, in order to stamp out any inconsistencies between policy and practices. A Halifax court ruled on Thursday that no jail time or probation would be given to the young man responsible for the photo that led Rehtaeh Parsons to kill herself in April 2013. The man said that he did not expect the photo to be shared among people. Noting that her name and photo had been widely disseminated prior to the trial, both the victim's parents and the trial's judge objected to the ban. And in Steubenville, Ohio, the rape of a teenage girl by two local football stars was chronicled and shared in real time via Instagram and Twitter last August. During his sentencing, as the National Post's Christie Blatchford notes, the teen said that Parsons' eventual death had nothing to do with his actions, telling the court, "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of sending the picture." Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The death of Rehtaeh, who was taken off life support after a suicide attempt in April, led to an outcry. Credit: Telegraph.co.uk In November of 2011, 15-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons was gang raped at a party by four of her male peers. 27 / Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act, "Halifax police investigating violation of publication ban", "Rehtaeh Parsons' name can be published again unless it's derogatory", Rehtaeh Parsons (December 9, 1995 April 7, 2013), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Suicide_of_Rehtaeh_Parsons&oldid=1127364187. Welcome to Canadas official subreddit! Nous parlons en anglais et en franais. We must understand what is at stake when these images go viral, whether they were taken by the women themselves or their lovers, but especially when the women arenot consentingto what is taking place in these pictures or videos. When were completely happy with our efforts the information will go to the people we believe can make the difference in the case. The authors met with 111 people, including school board staff, Ministerial staff, school staff, youth, police, health-care workers and others. Because, in reality, it makes me so fucking pissed that a kid had to be a catalyst when all she really wanted was to just live her life. That night Rehtaeh was viewed as an object, and instead of helping her you posed for a photo and shared it with others. On April 4, 2013, Rehtaeh Parsons ( / rte /, r-TAY-; [1] December 9, 1995 - April 7, 2013), a 17-year-old student at Cole Harbor District High School, attempted suicide by hanging herself [2] at her home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, leading to a coma and decision to shut down medical support machinery on April 7, 2013 . In July 2010, there was a reaction to the use of one of Anonymous' slogans by the Oregon Tea Party. Do you want to send your child to school with him? [39], Canadian media reports about criminal trials involving child pornography are subject to a publication ban under the Criminal Code: they must omit any information that would identify any minor who was involved in or witness to the case, including the victim, or be subject to fines. He said he would like to apologize to her parents through his lawyer. How can we undo the damage that has been done? Interested in learning more about the female body issues? If not, well Im sure theres plenty of other people who believe in the importance of bringing justice to a young bullycide victim., The balls in your court, RCMP, he added. That is called rape. These screenshots contain blurred-out names of the alleged attackers. In December, Diab removed the ban on the condition that Rehtaeh's name is respected. [9] This article originally appeared on VICE Canada. Another 20-year-old man charged in the case, whose identity is also protected, was given a conditional discharge in November after he pleaded guilty to making child pornography by taking the photo of the accused. Once the two boys were done they carried her over and laid her on the bed to sleep. Be sure to readBody Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers. Did you know that the day she was born she changed my life for the better? Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. "[28], There are reports that members of the hacker group Anonymous involved itself in tracing the alleged perpetrators of the incidents Parsons suffered. The end of this story could have been quite different. Two 18-year-old men were booked on child. Rehtaeh Parsons had her life support machine switched off after she attempted suicide following bullying over an explicit image taken against her will (Creative Commons) A man has walked free. How could the police press no charges in a case where obvious child pornography spread virally across an entire high school? During the sentencing hearing, the courtroom was packed with reporters tweeting Rehtaeh's name. [16] In an unusual move for a case involving minors convicted of a crime, the judge ruled that this conviction would be kept in his criminal record for a period of five years. A judge for the Halifax Provincial Court imposed a mandatory DNA sample and ordered that the accused apologize to Rehtaeh Parsons' family. Other photos offer a further glimpse into her life. Funny you asked. We seek to illustrate that the bullying of Rehtaeh in her immediate community continues on, even after her death. Rehtaeh is gone today because of the four boys that thought that raping a 15 year old girl was OK and to distribute a photo to ruin her spirit and reputation would be fun. [20], The Parsons case also prompted an external inquiry into the conduct of the Crown Prosecutor's office. The two boys who had sex with her, both 16, passed the photo to several friends. Then the slut-shaming, bullying and mental health challenges that are so often experienced by the victims of sexual assault followed her for. Despite the darkness and the cruelty of this situation, there are positive things happening that I believe have been inspired by the way we treat women who fall victim to online predators. I wish I had known her :(, It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. ~ Marcus Aurelius, 2023 All rights reserved Glenford Canning. Two Anonymous protesters and Ivan Herritt at the Nova Scotia courthouse. We believe it's in the public interest in this unique case, given the widespread recognition of [her] name, and given the good that can come, and has already come, from free public debate over sexual consent and the other elements of her story." Do not hesitate to message the mods if you experience any issues! Arrests were made in that case. Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, died just days after a suicide attempt that followed years of cyberbullying after she was allegedly gang-raped at a party. [8], Following the suicide, the RCMP announced they were reviewing the case. Holten has reclaimed the power that was stolen from her when her nudes were posted online. And y is this anonymous group involed with this one n not any other of the suicides or rapes that have happend in the last 2yrs. We are in essence doing what the RCMP should have done themselves, investigate the circumstance thoroughly. Sat, Apr 13: Family and friends gathered together for Rehtaeh Parsons' funeral today. Pinterest CMO Andra Mallard joins the Kajabi board (Exclusive), Resurfaced podcast clip shows The 1975s Matt Healy calling Ice Spice dumb, mocking accents, Fashion and comedy icon Tyshon Lawrence shares insight from building an audience of over 18 million followers on TikTok, AI tool users beware: Copyright Offices denial of protection for graphic novel underscores new legal vulnerabilities for creators, *First Published: Apr 25, 2013, 8:34 am CDT, 2 arrests made in Rehtaeh Parsons rape case. Rehtaeh Parsons was a 14-year-old teenager in Nova Scotia who went to a party in November 2011, where she was allegedly gang-raped. When gang-rape victim Rehtaeh Parsons hanged herself April 5, she saw nothing ahead for herself but a future of accumulating pain. The report said the Parsons family faced challenges when they turned to Nova Scotia's mental health system for help. [21], Significantly, the authors recommended an external review of the IWK Health Centre, the Halifax hospital where she was a patient for five weeks after she had a breakdown and became suicidal. Asignificant number of celebrities (includingKim Kardashian, Keira Knightley, Chelsea Handler, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Scout Willis) have posed for nude photos or posted their own to the internet. On Sunday he and his wife had to take her off of life support. He led the Daily Dots esports vertical and, following its acquisition by GAMURS in late 2016, launched Dot Esports, where he serves as the sites editor-in-chief. He was bullied as a result of the photo, his lawyer told the court. Where's the rape charge? It released the identities of 19 people speaking ill against Parsons online. The photo was taken like it was a typical Facebook photo, just some kids having fun. That she was bright and funny? I cannot imagine going through what she did with the cyberbulling. The man, whose identity is protected because he was 17 at the time of the offence, admitted to posing with Parsons at a house party in Cole Harbour, N.S., in a photo taken two years . The photo shows Parsons and the 17-year-old both naked from the waist down, with him pressed against her. We are highlighting the actions, both off and online, of 19 individuals in Rehtaehs broader community. Following the suicide, Rehtaeh Parsons's mother, Leah Parsons, went public with the story and started a memorial Facebook page[7] called "Angel Rehtaeh. police should create a policy for interviewing underage victims of sexual assault; an integrated police sex crimes unit that works more closely with the sexual assault investigation team be created; police and Crown prosecutors be given specific training as soon as they are assigned to deal with such crimes; more Crown prosecutors with specialized training be available; a memorandum should be written when the Crown decides there are insufficient grounds to lay a charge or feels there is no realistic chance of a conviction. Would you trust your family members to be around him in a public spot? Nor that the Halifax Regional Police would open an internal investigation to the negligent way the case was handled, why a yearlong investigation with photo evidence closed without a single charge. If only. You probably knew nothing about her whatsoever.