The Formspring.me website issued a statement through a spokeswoman expressing condolences to Alexis' family.
The father Mr. Thomas Pilkington informed through a media interview that his daughter’s death resulted off suicide while at his family home at Long Islands. Police deputies from West Islip are already investigating the matter and they have had describe the status of Alexis’s death suicide too.
Alexis Skye Pilkington was 17-years-old and a member of the West Islip High School soccer team in Wwest Islip, New York. She was a stand-out on her team and was well-liked by her peers. Alexis, known as Lexi Pilkington, also played lacrosse and participated in other extra-curricular activities at her school. She had graduated from high school early and was preparing to start school at Dowling College in the fall on a soccer scholarship.
Photo of Alexis Pilkington.
Donna McBride, whose daughter often brought Alexis along on family vacations as they were growing up, said her daughter started screaming when she saw the spiteful and gruesome images. She has told her daughter to stop looking at the page and has instead asked a relative who didn't know Alexis to document the postings for authorities.
Students at the school speaking on the condition of anonymity say Alexis posted a final Facebook update between 1 and 2am local time Saturday, simply stating “done with everything.” No reference was made to any online harassment, but Pilkington’s memorial page is currently plagued with distasteful messages and graphic images of unrelated deaths. Sources who asked to remain unnamed within West Islip High School say the teen was rumored to have been troubled before her death, and that online conflict is widely dismissed by those who knew Alexis as the cause of her depression in the wake of the tragedy.
Investigators are monitoring the postings of Formspring.me and will take action if any communication is determined to be of a criminal nature.
This is a site that says it gives teens the opportunity to "ask questions, give answers and learn more about your friends." Teens can do so anonymously -- just like they can in the Facebook "Honesty Box." This makes this site a goldmine for cyberbullies because they can be as cruel as they want without ever being identified. Cyberbullies even left cruel comments AFTER Alexis committed suicide.
On Friday 45 Long Island school districts will be attending a keeping kids safe from cyber bullying conference sponsored by Child Abuse Prevention Services.
Although it is unclear if any “cyberbullying” took place prior to Pilkington’s suicide, the media has firmly latched on to the notion that it lead to the girl’s death. It appears that most, if not all, of the current harassment does not stem from actual acquaintances of the girl, but rather internet trolls seeking to cause conflict following Pilkington’s death.
Just two weeks before Alexis’ death, a father who lost his son to suicide after the boy was bullied online went to speak to members of the school district community. That was followed with classroom discussions on the topic, said Nancy Lenz, a spokeswoman for the West Islip School District. Alexis was unlikely to have attended the talk, McBride said.
The father of one of Pilkington's friends, Michael Stracuzza, is reportedly working with prosecutors and is collecting and passing on the hurtful messages that have been posted on Facebook.
she sounded like a great role model, and she had a pretty smile and face. i have a formspring but i have mine set so only people with accounts can leave me messages. i guess that could help a little? so far,everybody's been being kind. but i definitely will ignore rude comments, they won't bring me down! (:
