DONGAN HILLS, NY (PIX11)—
Even after their daughter committed suicide following a campaign of harassment, a Staten Island family is still plagued by hateful cyber bullies posting despicable on-line messages by the thousands as they prepare to lay the 15-year-old to rest.
Tears and hugs were on display on Staten Island at the A. Azzara Funeral Home Thursday, as the Cummings family said their final goodbyes at the wake of young Amanda Cummings. The high school sophomore succumbed on Monday to injuries she sustained after attempting suicide two days after Christmas by stepping in front of a bus.
One teen girl, dressed in somber black, trying to compose herself, worked to find the words to honor her friend. "She always forgave people that treated her badly. She didn't deserve anything," she managed to utter before the tears took over and she sought the solace of a friend.
Amanda's family for several weeks has been working with police to identify who bullied her so mercilessly that it drove her to suicide. Family, including her mother and sister, knew fellow students were tormenting her with text and Facebook messages for years, but chose not to report it to school officials at Amanda's urging. They have broken their silence now.
Amanda's uncle Keith Cummings, has lead the charge. A proud man who seems as though he would rarely shrink from a fight, still struggles to control his emotions as he grapples with the loss of his beloved niece, close in age to his own three children.
"We need to find these bullies. Somebody needs to gets brought to justice. Somebody," Cummings implores.
The family contends it was a dangerous cocktail of cyberbullying, heartache over losing a boyfriend, and the emotional turmoil that often arises during teen years that drove Amanda to such a level of despondency she penned a suicide letter, tucked it into her pocket, told her mother with a smile she was going to visit a friend and then jumped in front of a moving bus on December 27th.
Hateful messages have continued to plague Amanda and her family -- one page set up as a tribute to her has been overrun with ugly messages -- there were 7,500 contributors, some leaving posts about Amanda's death with the phrase LOL. Police continue to maintain that bullying is not the cause of Amanda's death -- friends are begging them to keep investigating.
One family friend and mother of a teenager was outspoken. Michelle Gatti had a simple solution to finding the cyber bullies. "Put an undercover cop in New Dorp High School for a day, a week, and they'll see plenty."
And a high school senior, Mike Leckow, spelled it out as well, "The police claim they have so much technology, go behind the IP addresses and I guarantee they'll lead back to New Dorp High School."
Amanda's family closed her Facebook account after her mother claims someone hacked her own login to write an angry message yesterday wishing that people would die and suffer.
Her Uncle Keith has seen more than he wants. "One girl went out there and said I hate her f'ing guts. It's real simple to figure out who these people are."
Does more police work need to be done? "Without a doubt," he answered. "Without a doubt."
Even after their daughter committed suicide following a campaign of harassment, a Staten Island family is still plagued by hateful cyber bullies posting despicable on-line messages by the thousands as they prepare to lay the 15-year-old to rest.
Tears and hugs were on display on Staten Island at the A. Azzara Funeral Home Thursday, as the Cummings family said their final goodbyes at the wake of young Amanda Cummings. The high school sophomore succumbed on Monday to injuries she sustained after attempting suicide two days after Christmas by stepping in front of a bus.
One teen girl, dressed in somber black, trying to compose herself, worked to find the words to honor her friend. "She always forgave people that treated her badly. She didn't deserve anything," she managed to utter before the tears took over and she sought the solace of a friend.
Amanda's family for several weeks has been working with police to identify who bullied her so mercilessly that it drove her to suicide. Family, including her mother and sister, knew fellow students were tormenting her with text and Facebook messages for years, but chose not to report it to school officials at Amanda's urging. They have broken their silence now.
Amanda's uncle Keith Cummings, has lead the charge. A proud man who seems as though he would rarely shrink from a fight, still struggles to control his emotions as he grapples with the loss of his beloved niece, close in age to his own three children.
"We need to find these bullies. Somebody needs to gets brought to justice. Somebody," Cummings implores.
The family contends it was a dangerous cocktail of cyberbullying, heartache over losing a boyfriend, and the emotional turmoil that often arises during teen years that drove Amanda to such a level of despondency she penned a suicide letter, tucked it into her pocket, told her mother with a smile she was going to visit a friend and then jumped in front of a moving bus on December 27th.
Hateful messages have continued to plague Amanda and her family -- one page set up as a tribute to her has been overrun with ugly messages -- there were 7,500 contributors, some leaving posts about Amanda's death with the phrase LOL. Police continue to maintain that bullying is not the cause of Amanda's death -- friends are begging them to keep investigating.
One family friend and mother of a teenager was outspoken. Michelle Gatti had a simple solution to finding the cyber bullies. "Put an undercover cop in New Dorp High School for a day, a week, and they'll see plenty."
And a high school senior, Mike Leckow, spelled it out as well, "The police claim they have so much technology, go behind the IP addresses and I guarantee they'll lead back to New Dorp High School."
Amanda's family closed her Facebook account after her mother claims someone hacked her own login to write an angry message yesterday wishing that people would die and suffer.
Her Uncle Keith has seen more than he wants. "One girl went out there and said I hate her f'ing guts. It's real simple to figure out who these people are."
Does more police work need to be done? "Without a doubt," he answered. "Without a doubt."
