The Buckingham

Photo Credit: www.m.theglobeandmail.com

Amanda Todd, a Canadian teen, was found dead on Oct. 12.  She was only 15-years-old.

Todd’s death has brought to light again the tragic results of relentless bullying.

Todd was cyber bullied for three years before she enrolled in a new school in Vancouver, B.C.  She soon found a group of supportive friends and appeared to have put her past behind her.

“She was so proud of herself.  She went out with friends, she went to the mall; she said to me, ‘Mom, this is the first time that I feel normal again.  I have had the best day ever,” her mother, Carol Todd, told the Vancouver Sun.

However, Carol’s optimism came to a halt when she found her daughter’s body at their home on Oct. 12.

Todd’s death comes just weeks after she had posted a YouTube video that detailed her struggle with suicidal feelings and depression.  Her depression stemmed from an incident in which a stalker began distributing topless pictures of her online.

Back when she was only in 8th grade, Todd flashed on webcam with friends.  Not long after this, she received a Facebook message from a stranger who threatened to post her topless picture unless she revealed more of herself.  This incident led the police to show up at her house and inform her that the photographs had been posted online.

Prior to her death, the tenth-grade cheerleader had attempted suicide before by drinking bleach and cutting herself.

Police are currently following up on claims that the hacker group Anonymous has identified Todd’s alleged stalker.