Rehtaeh Parsons Update: Father of teen who committed suicide after rape, cyberbullying receives online death threat, report says
(CBS/AP) HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -The father of a Novia Scotia teen who committed suicide after her family said she was gang-raped in 2011 and cyber-bullied about the attack, says he received an online death threat, the CBC reports.
PICTURES: Mom blames rape, bullying for teen's suicide
Rehtaeh Parsons was taken off life support after a suicide attempt in April that her family says was prompted by months of bullying. They say the 17-year-old was tormented after a digital photograph of her allegedly being sexually assaulted was distributed around her school.
The case thrust the cyber-bulling issue into the national spotlight in Canada and drew outrage from across the globe.
Parsons' father, Glen Canning, a vocal advocate against cyber-bullying, told the CBC he received a threatening message on his YouTube channel.
"'I know where you live, I know your face, I know your car, I know your house, I know where you work. And you better shut up, bud, or you're going to be joining your daughter,'" Canning said, describing the message to the CBC. "Just stuff like that. It's pretty sad, actually."
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are reportedly investigating the threat.
After Parsons' alleged assault at a house party in November of 2011, police conducted a year-long investigation and initially concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone. But police re-opened the investigation a week after the teen's death, saying they received new and credible information from someone who was willing to cooperate with their investigation.
Canadian police arrested two teens early this month in connection with the case. One 18-year-old male faces two counts of distributing child pornography, while another 18-year-old male is charged with distributing and making child pornography.
The teens' names cannot be released because they were under 18 at the time of the alleged offenses, an RCMP spokesman told CBS News' Crimesider.
Canning told the CBC he is taking extra precautions following the threat.
Complete coverage of Rehtaeh Parsons on Crimesider
