Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, committed suicide following alleged cyberbullying and alleged sexual assault earlier this year, and her mother is now relieved some legal action is being taken.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested two individuals, and Leah Parsons told The National Post Thursday: “We’re just hopeful there’s charges laid and others to arrest, hoping that they’re finally willing to tell their side of the story,” Leah Parsons said in an interview.
“A sense of relief came over me that at least they’re going to be questioned,” she said.
A Facebook comment by Dawn Crawford on the page created in memorial of the teen reads: “Rehtaeh they finally have two ppl in custody for questioning. That’s a start.”
The teen’s mother told the Post: “I feel that the investigation wasn’t handled properly from the beginning and I’ve never seen the file, so I don’t really know why or how that happened,” Leah Parsons said. “I’m just glad that it was reopened and I’m really happy that they have two people to question.”
The RCMP initially said it didn’t have enough evidence to lay charges, but reopened the case having received new information from someone who stepped forward to discuss the case with police, according to the Post.
An RCMP press release issued Thursday morning states: “This morning at 8 a.m., investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division arrested two males at their respective residences in HRM [Halifax Regional Municipality]. They are in police custody and are currently being questioned by investigators.”
The RCMP noted that the arrests were made in relation to the Parsons case, but stated: “No further information is being released at this time.”
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