Amherst investigators announced Tuesday the death of Jamey Rodemeyer will not be ruled a crime in wake of the teen’s controversial death attributed to gay bullying.
Rodemeyer’s cell phone and computer were analyzed at a forensic lab to determine whether he had received harassing or bullying comments prior to the teen’s suicide on Sept. 18. Police had determined the comments were “insensitive” and “inappropriate” but not enough to garner criminal charges.
Rodemeyer had been taunted since elementary school and endured bullying once the teen reached high school. He had posted a video just months prior to his suicide that “things were finally getting better,” yet he started a blog where his thoughts on suicide began to ruminate.
Just weeks after he started his blog, Rodemeyer committed suicide and made national headines in wake of emerging reports that attributed his death to gay bullying that occurred just days prior to his passing.
“People would say, ‘Oh, my God, you’re such a girl. What are you, gay?’ That kind of stuff,” said Tracy Rodemeyer, the teen’s mother, in an interview with the Associated Press.
Jamey’s Tumblr blog included statements like, “Stop bullying people. Maybe they won’t commit suicide” and “Ugh today makes me wanna kill myself.”
In his final post, Rodemeyer wrote: “I pray the fame won’t take my life,” in tribute to Lady Gaga.
