Two girls were arrested in connection with the death of 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick, who committed suicide last month after being the target of online bullying, police said.
A 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl were charged as juveniles with felony aggravated stalking on Monday, according to a release from the Polk County sheriff's office.
Grady Judd, a sheriff in Polk County, Fla., said the teens "repeatedly and maliciously harassed" Rebecca, who jumped to her death from a tower on Sept. 9. The Lakeland, Fla. girl was targeted because she had dated the 14-year-old's boyfriend, according to multiple reports.
Witnesses told police that the teen sent online messages to Rebecca, calling her "ugly," telling her to "drink bleach and die" and encouraging Rebecca to kill herself. Both girls also threatened to beat Rebecca up, and got into a physical fight with her at least once, police said.
On Saturday, the 14-year-old published a Facebook post (which includes spelling mistakes and acronyms in its original form, below) that said, "Yes I know I bullied Rebecca and she killed herself, but I don't give a f--k."
Sheriff Grady Judd: this is what one girl sent out Saturday after the death of Rebecca sedwick pic.twitter.com/4d3szlVaBF— shannon butler (@sbutlerfox35) October 15, 2013
Police added that "malicious harassment" by both girls, who attended the same middle school as Rebecca, likely contributed to Rebecca's decision to commit suicide.
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