Girl, 14, died after being told to ‘kill herself’ in cyber-bullying campaign

Megan Evans, 14, ‘had a big heart and would do anything to help anyone’ (Picture: Wales News Service)

A 14-year-old girl killed herself after a cyber-bullying campaign that included a social media group dedicated to targeting her.

The group – called ‘I hate Megan Evans’ was removed after being reported to the school – Megan’s mother, Nicola Harteveld, said.

But she discovered more while searching Megan’s Snapchat and Facebook accounts after the girl’s brother found her dead in the house in 2017.

It had been part of a cyber-bullying campaign that included Megan being told to ‘kill herself’ on social media.

For weeks, Megan, a usually ‘studious and well-behaved girl, according to her mum, had been having ‘outbursts’ in class.

But despite calling Nicola nearly everyday over uniform infringements, the school never made the family aware of any bad behaviour.

Nicola, a mother of eight, said: ‘They knew her behaviour was out of character, it was getting worse, she was verbally abusive to staff.

‘They must have known that something was wrong.’

Megan had been lookin forward to a Justin Bieber concert when she died (Picture: Wales News Service)

But when Megan’s friends were asked if they thought she was being bullied, ‘all of them said no’, according to Malcolm Duthie, representing the education authority at Pembrokeshire Council.

He said it would have been hard for the school to gather evidence of bullying that took place on Snapchat, where messages automatically disappear after 24 hours.

Mr Duthrie said Megan may have been upset by an argument with a pupil, or concern for her father’s health.

She had appeared to be in good spirits when she attended a meeting about a school trip to France on February 7, 2017.

That night, when her brother couldn’t find her at their home in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, he called their parents, who had left for a trip to Cardiff with the four youngest siblings.

Eventually, he found her in a locked upstairs bedroom. The efforts of family, paramedics and hospital staff could not save her.

Nicola told police she had ‘no idea why Megan would do this’, describing her as an intelligent, kind and vibrant teenager.

In a statement, the family said: ‘She had a big heart and would do anything to help anyone.

‘She brought love and laughter into our home and was always full of energy. Her friends adored her, and she always stood up for what she believed in.’

A talented artist and hockey player, Megan was excited for an upcoming Justin Bieber concert before she died.

Since then, her other Nicola has campaigned to raise awareness about mental health and the dangers of bullying.

As part of this, she set up Megan’s Starr Foundation, which provides free counselling and peer support to young people in Pembrokeshire.

The inquest in Haverfordwest continues.

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