Tragic girl, 13, told ‘just kill yourself ’ by Snapchat trolls
THE distraught family of a 13-yearold girl found dead in her bedroom have asked police to investigate after Snapchat bullies told her: ‘Just kill yourself.’
Faith Hindle, who was discovered by her mother Charlene Riley, suffered abuse on Snapchat and Instagram.
Her grandmother Theresa Riley has called for the social media sites to be shut down ‘because they cause so many problems’ for young people. Although Faith had previously self-harmed, her family said they were told by health workers she was not seen as a suicide risk.
The youngster died last Saturday night in Cadishead, near Manchester. Hours earlier, Faith had kissed her mother goodbye and said she was spending the night with her father Lee Hindle, 35. Instead, she met two friends before they returned to her home when her mother was out, said Theresa Riley. The other girls are then thought to have left the house.
Beautician Miss Riley, 34, found her daughter’s body on her return.
The grandmother, 53, said: ‘We have asked police to investigate because we know she had been subjected to online abuse on Instagram and Snapchat. ‘The trouble with Snapchat is that messages disappear but Faith had taken pictures of some of the abuse. I know in the past she messaged people saying things like, “I just don’t feel like being here”. And people messaged back: “Just do it! Just kill yourself!” It is horrible. I would shut these sites down because they cause so many problems for young people.’
Mrs Riley said medical experts repeatedly told the family Faith was not a suicide risk despite the fact she had recently overdosed on paracetamol.
She added: ‘On that occasion I held her in my arms and she told me: “I don’t want to die.” All the professionals at the hospitals and social services
‘I would shut these sites down’
kept telling us she was not a suicide risk and now she has gone. I am just numb.’
Mr Hindle, an engineer, said: ‘We have told the police about online bullying.
‘ But we are also worried about the way Faith seems to have been let down by all the agencies that were meant to be supporting her. They seem to have failed her.’
He added: ‘ Christmas is going to be really hard. Nobody expects to be planning a 13year-old’s funeral.’
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances but they could not comment ahead of an inquest.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123, go to a local branch or visit the website www.samaritans.org