Bullied Middle Schoolers, Paige Moravetz and Haylee Fentress, Take Lives In Suicide Pact

Family members admit that the signs were there.

After repeatedly indicating that they were bullied and felt ostracized, Paige Moravetz and Haylee Fentress took their lives at a sleepover in what family members believe was a suicide pact.

Moravetz's cousin Hillary Settle tells the TODAY Show that Fentress had posted a telling status update directed at Moravetz on Facebook shortly before their deaths:

"I'm so nervous and I just want to get it over with. I love you, Paige."

The two eighth graders from southwestern Minnesota hanged themselves at a sleepover Friday night at Fentress' house. Her mother discovered their bodies Saturday morning, according to the TODAY Show.

Moravetz, a hockey star remembered for her big smile, and Fentress, a newcomer to Minnesota with a bubbly personality, were best friends.

Still, Fentress had sent her relatives Facebook messages describing how hard it was to have recently moved from Indiana, saying that she was sad and lonely. Those close to her say that she was teased about her weight and her red hair.

Settle tells the TODAY Show:

"Maybe we should have paid closer attention. Maybe everyone should have paid closer attention."

Fentress' mother and her older sister released a statement saying they believe bullying played a role in the suicides:

"We need to stop pretending this isn't happening or that is just a cry for attention because obviously it is not. This needs to be talked about and we need to try to prevent this by teaching kids in school, community and at home. They need to know they are not alone. It shouldn't take more tragedies to realize this."

The two girls became friends about a year ago after Fentress moved to Minnesota from Indiana. Moravetz's uncle says she took Fentress under her wing and was even teaching her to skate.

They grew so close that Fentress was recently expelled from school after getting into a fight to defend Moravetz when other students allegedly harassed her, according to ABC. Robin Settle, Fentress' aunt, says that was just her nature:

"She stood up for the underdogs and she was one herself," Settle said.

Marshall Middle School isn't commenting on the bullying claims. But it is offering grief support for kids and also advising them against spreading rumors through social media or text messages, according to the Marshall Independent.

"You don't get over it," said Marshall Superintendent Klint Willert. "But by working together, we can get through it."

Both girls left suicides notes. Moravetz's asked people to pray for her, and Fentress' asked for specific funeral arrangements, Settle told ABC.

"She requested everything pink and princess and butterflies."

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Comments

[PixieGirl0731]

11:46 AM on 06/11/2011

I am with baybeebluz. We need to look at the way schools are dealing with the bully. For example: what can a Kindergarten teacher do when a child bullies another? Time out is considered CORPORAL PUNISHMENT in school. We need to empower the teachers that want to help. What can they do? If a bully smacks another child we help the bully. When I was in school the teacher would have smacked the bully and then the bullies parent would have backed the teacher. We need to stop the parent bullies. We the parents of the NORMAL children need to stand up for their rights. We need to say NO! The other kid should not be allowed to make a victim out of mine.

[Adonis Vowsen]

05:42 AM on 06/06/2011

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www.wisedefenseforwomen.blogspot.com

[mom2alex2008]

10:47 AM on 05/29/2011

You all ought to take a look at the "New Restraints" article. They are saying that these kids who are Sp. Ed. need to be understood not stopped.

[Samual Widboom]

06:52 PM on 05/07/2011

Sad that this had to happen in my school. it bites

[lilianna123]

07:53 PM on 05/06/2011

I think bullying should be made a federal offense. There HAS to be a harsh punishment for bullying because so many people are loosing their lives because of it. One of my friend's younger sister got in trouble for bullying. What was her punishment? She got her phone taken away by her parents for one month. Seriously?! Thats never going to do anything. Maybe if she spent a month in juvie instead she would think twice about bullying. Yeah its harsh, but it i don't think its a ridiculous punishment.

[gomab1914]

10:25 AM on 05/24/2011

Very ridiculous where were the parents at? Nobody talks to their kids anymore. Bullying has been here. Kids are very fragile these days. I remember when I was in school my parents made it a point to ask me how my day at school went. Everything points to the lack of communication from the parents,admin, teachers even the children. Teach you childrent to be strong and have a open channel of communication all the time tough yes but very necessary.

[iLdoRight]

10:16 PM on 05/02/2011

So very sad ! It is easy to understand why Our Creator said in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 that no "revilers" (bullies) would be allowed in God's Kingdom. Understanding the ideals, values and principles of "true" Christianity has real benefit value to society. Then by comparison in another top "religion" Islam, from the Quran one can see at the link below that there is encouragement to do something thing that is not in keeping with good humane conduct.

http://www.truechristianityevangelism.org/koranhell.html

[PeterLoffredo]

10:05 PM on 04/27/2011

Children do not commit suicide or murder without warning signs. Major warning signs.
If we don't stop trying to drug our kids emotional problems and inner lives into submission, along with our own, and if we don't stop letting ourselves as a society off the hook by not acknowledging out loud - really loudly - that most parents, teachers and doctors don't have a clue about our children's developmental needs, then these tragedies will continue. Furthermore, if we don't admit that most parents, teachers and doctors know close to nothing about the emotional and psychological issues that children suffer from, nor do most parents understand the inextricable connection between their children's well-being and their own adult emotional and mental health, then we will continue to endure these grievous occurrences.
Love is not enough of a qualification for raising children.
Parenting is a very challenging and complex job that requires more rigorous training than any doctoral program, if it is to be done well. That training is intensive self-work, the kind that leads you to being fully tuned-in and conscious, which makes you aware of your own emotional states and of the emotional states of those around you. It means you've overcome the idealizations, transferences and projections that make you see what you want to see and not see what is really going on in your children's inner lives.
Peter Loffredo, LCSW
http://fullpermissionliving.blogspot.com/

[idahogirlinnyc]

11:39 AM on 04/27/2011

My daughter was bullied by a boy when she was in the 7th grade. He was relentless with his verbal assaults and physical taunting. Once the situation was brought to my attention by my daughter I went straight into the Superintendents office seeking a resolution. Very little was ever done, they moved her locker, changed her home room... but it did little to deter him from finding her if he really wanted to. She would cry in the mornings, begging me not to make her go to school. Meetings with the school left me feeling helpless, I was told the parent is aware of the situation (she wasn't the only one he was tormenting) and they are working with the school to resolve the issue. I know now I should have gotten the police involved when the school showed a lack of conviction and commitment in stopping the little menace. The icing on this proverbial cake, two days before the end of the school year the school counselor contacted me stating he and several other teachers where concerned about how withdrawn my daughter had become. Really? Weren't you the second person I contacted about the bullying taking place? Now you're contacting me with concern? My daughter was enrolled in a private school the following school year and we haven't had any problems since, thank goodness. I think parents need to know what rights they have, because I felt helpless at the time.

[WhatWereTheyThinking]

08:22 PM on 04/26/2011

The parents of these two girls need to take the names of all the kids from Facebook, text messages, etc, the names of the school officials and law enforcement involved and publish them.

Draw no conclusions, make no comments or judgements. Just publish a list of these names. Let the public sort out who should be held accountable. Law enforcement and the courts won't, and school system certainly won't - they're in self-preservation mode.

[Barbara DeZan]

11:55 AM on 04/26/2011

I recall being bullied a lot. Coming from and ultra-poor "Okie" family, living in southern Oregon in the 40-50's. A large family supported by a single mother doing everything her limited skills would permit to keep a roof overhead and food on the table....and being mixed blood "white/indian"..... I was oldest.

Our mother was a strong woman who took nothing from anyone..and she instilled in us to ignore any taunts or words that came our way. She said most are ignorant racists and have nothing between their ears and parents who didn't care.

I finally broke one day....on my way to school - 8th grade, it was. A group of girls had been taunting me for weeks about my clothes and shoes. I had ONE blouse and ONE skirt which my mother carefully washed, starched and ironed every night and I wore to school every day.

I'd had it....so, I threw my books down, climbed on top of the biggest, loudest girl and proceeded to beat the stuffing out of her. Then, looked around and asked "anybody else"?

That put an end to it....

[Targetdog]

10:47 PM on 04/25/2011

k1dork on Apr 25, 2011 at 22:10:37
“The fact is that not all Christian conservati­ves think the same way. How about next time you say "some" instead of broadly labeling an entire group of people? And where is your proof that some Christian conservati­ves are against anti-bully­ing programs?”

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/04/14/coalition-kept-invisible/

Need more? I can get you more!

[trekie70]

01:18 PM on 05/16/2011

Targetdog, read the news. Both the AFA and Focus on the Family have been loudly vocal against preventing bullying, calling it a "rite of passage."

[trekie70]

01:21 PM on 05/16/2011

Sorry, targetdog. I missed the fact you had quoted another post. No offense intended.

[JenniferMZeares]

12:37 AM on 04/25/2011

The fact that these 8th grade children felt they had nothing better to live for and that they had to end their lives in absolutely horrifying.

I don't know what the answers are or how to stop these things from happening, but I can say that I think parents should monitor kid's online activities more closely. As the mother of an 11 year old boy, I can say that I am highly involved in his life and feel there is nothing wrong with monitoring his actions, especially online. I am also supportive and like to create a safe, loving environment in which he can tell me anything. I wish these girls had someone they felt they could confide in, someone that could help.

[ABACADABRA RABBIT]

09:35 PM on 04/24/2011

Bullies do not belong in an academic environment. Kick them out of that school, put violence on their permanent record, and punish the parent(s). Do not allow students with bullying on their record into a major university. Take away their internet rights. No financial aid for school bullies. Force the parent(s) to drive 2 hours each way to another school district.

If you don't want to take drastic actions to stop bullying, expect more suicides and expect more school shootings. Stop treating athletes like gods of the earth. Sue the schools, parents and fire demonic teachers when bullying occurs. Remove tenure for primary and secondary school teachers.

Most of the time it is the parent's fault. People will have kids with anybody these days....

[Freidhiem]

03:16 PM on 04/24/2011

When I was in highschool I was one of the few to stand up for bullied kids. This however got me into a lot of fights. Not yelling and pushing mind you. Fist fights that ended up bloody and messy. Now many will say that it was wrong. But everyone I fought changed. Whether out of fear, or knowledge that not everyone will sit back and take it. Violence isnt always the answer, but that doesnt mean its never the answer. Teach kids to stand up for themselves and others and not just to turn the other cheek.

[Barbara DeZan]

11:57 AM on 04/26/2011

Exactly......

Nothing stops the bully faster than a roundhouse punch to the nose....for sure.

Been there, done that....and taught my own to not put up with it either...and they taught their kids.

[Auntydem]

02:15 PM on 04/24/2011

Previous posters ask, "Who is teaching kids how to treat other kids and behave as human beings?" Hopefully their parents - the most influential people in their lives. Teachers are responsible for academics, but they reinforce moral behavior every day – dealing with bullying, lying, cheating and more. Too often parents come roaring in defend their kids' bad behaviors. Teachers and administrators are not to blame for what students post on social media. As far as hlding parents accountable for bullying - you ain't see nothing until you've seen a parent who's a bully. Schools are in a no win situation. Have all the training you want at school, but when the kids go home to parents who don't reinforce it or set a different example, change is not likely.