"What follows is the transcript from a series of screenshots emailed to the Columbus City Police on June 7th, 2011, and subsequently distributed to the media."
Everyone has a page…
In the last few years, social networking has exploded as one of the best and easiest means of keeping in touch with people. It increases your visibility, allows the creation of a profile that shows you to the world and lets them know everything about you.
Allows anyone to find you.
Written mostly as a series of Facebook instant messages and presented as a true-crime case, this short story by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke illustrates the ease with which innocent associations on the Internet can lead to tragedy…OFFLINE.
Copyright 2011 by Kealan Patrick Burke
What follows is the transcript from a series of screenshots emailed to the Columbus City Police on June 7th, 2011, and subsequently distributed to the media. In the wake of the investigation and as a result of the extensive media coverage, countless falsified copies and revised versions of the document were later posted to various social media platforms via a "meme" which later proved to be a virus.
This is the official authorized version of the document
May 2 nd, 2010
Josh: Hey
Mandy: hi
Josh: Thanks for accepting my request
Mandy: np. Why did you add me?
Josh: thought we had a lot in common
Mandy: cool
Josh: plus, you're hot, lol!
Mandy: thx
Josh: so how r you?
Mandy: good. Gotta go.
Josh: ok
May 3 rd, 2010
Josh: Hi Mandy
Mandy: hey
Josh: What's going on?
Mandy: nt much. u?
Josh: cooking
Mandy: that's cool
May 4 th, 2010
Josh: Hey.
Mandy: Hey.
Josh: What are you up to?
Mandy: Txtng my friend
Josh: Cool. How is she?
Mandy: Not so good. Her online 'boyfriend' just dumped her…lol.
Josh: that sucks.
Mandy: Yeah. I better go.
Josh: Oh, ok. Sorry I bothered you.
Mandy: You didn't. ttyl.
Josh: Ok.
May 5 th, 2010
Josh: Hey
Mandy: Hey.
Josh: How are you?
Mandy: Ok. u?
Josh: bored
Mandy: sorry to hear that.
Josh: I like your new profile pic.
Mandy: thx!
Josh: you should be a model
Mandy: lol. Yeah, right.
Josh: I'm serious. You look a bit like Celine Dion, only hotter…!
Mandy: Ugh, Celine Dion is gross, lol.
Josh: lol, sorry! Well you're not gross.
Mandy: thx
Josh: so do you have a boyfriend?
May 7 th, 2010
Josh: Hey
Mandy: Hi. Jeez, do you ever sleep?
Josh: what do you mean?
Mandy: you're always on here.
Josh: not always. But a lot, I guess. Nothing better to do, lol.
Josh: what are you up to?
Mandy: not much. Just responding to email
Josh: sweet.
Josh: do you get much email?
Mandy: lol
Josh: what?
Mandy: nothing. Just an odd question
Josh: oh, lol. Sorry. Just really bored. Not many people to talk to on here
Mandy: aww
Josh: I don't have many friends
Mandy: on FB?
Josh: anywhere
Mandy: that's sad. Sorry:-(
Josh: s'okay. Where I live it's hard to be popular
Mandy: where do you live?
Josh: did you look at my profile?
Mandy: no, sorry. I will now.
Josh: cool
Mandy: You're in Urbana?
Josh: yep
Mandy: cool. I used to live there a few years ago
Josh: I know
Mandy: ummm…how do u know, lol?
Josh: says you went to school there on your profile, silly, lol.
Mandy: lol. Blonde moment. Sorry.
Josh: yeah, but you're not blonde:-)
Mandy: I am actually;-)
Josh: in your picture you are, but you're originally a brunette, right?
Mandy: how do you know that?
May 10 th, 2010
Mandy: Hi!
Josh: Hey
Mandy: Quick question…
Josh: sure
Mandy: when I talked to you before, you said I wasn't a real blonde
Josh: yes. Sorry about that. Didn't mean to upset you
Mandy: Nah, it's cool. Just wondering how you knew that?
Josh: so it's true?
Mandy: Yeah, but I've been a blonde for a long time
Josh: why?
Mandy:???
Mandy: Why what?
Josh: why are you blonde?
Mandy: Uh…I dunno. I just prefer it. I like how it looks, I guess.
Josh: makes sense
Mandy: So, how did you know? Is it obvious or something, lol!
Josh: Nah, you just look like you used to be a brunette
Mandy: Oh. In a bad way?
Josh: No
Mandy: Ok, phew, lol. So whatchoo doing?
Josh: Not much. Bad day
Mandy: what happened?
May 11 th, 2010
Josh: Hi Mandy
Mandy: Hey
Josh: Sorry about yesterday
Mandy: S'ok.
Josh: I've been going through some stuff. Makes me cranky, lol.
Mandy: no probs. Happens to me all the time. Everything ok?
Josh: I like your new profile pic
Mandy: awesome, thanks so much! Do you like it better than the Celine Dion one, lol!
Josh: Yes. Looks like you didn't crop it enough though on the right side.
Mandy: I was kind of in a hurry. Does it look bad?
Josh: No, but you can see your boyfriend's arm in it.
Mandy: Yeah, I like how I look in that picture so I wanted to put it up.
Mandy: If I cropped it anymore tho, I'd have had to cut myself in half, lol.
Josh: So who's the guy?
Mandy: An ex. A jerk.
Josh: why'd u break up?
Mandy: He cheated on me.
Josh: Ouch
Mandy: Yeah.
Josh: He'll get what's coming to him tho. Everybody does
Mandy: I guess. So what kind of music do you like?
Josh: It's on my profile
Mandy: K, will check it out
Josh: K
May 13 th, 2010
Mandy: Hi
Josh: Sup?
Mandy: nothing. Just saw that you were on.
Mandy: you still there?
Josh: yes
Mandy: you're not very chatty tonight, lol.
Josh: bad day
Mandy: me too
Josh: seems to be going around
Mandy: yeah. My friend might be pregnant
Josh: that's too bad
Mandy: yeah, she asked me for advice and I didn't know what to tell her
Josh: how old is she?
Mandy: 17. Same as me
Josh: she should probably get rid of it
Mandy: she doesn't want to
Josh: then it's on her
Mandy: that's not nice. She's really freaked out
Josh: she should be. Maybe in the future she'll keep her legs closed
May 14 th, 2010
Josh: hi
May 15 th, 2010
Josh: hey
May 16 th, 2010
Josh: Did you get my email?
Mandy: Yes. Thanks
Josh: I meant what I said
Mandy: I know, thank you
Josh: I am sorry
Mandy: I believe you
Josh: Was having another shitty day. Shouldn't have said what I said.
Mandy: It's ok. I didn't like hearing it, but you're not really wrong.
Josh: what do you mean?
Mandy: She sleeps around
Josh: Ah. Not good
Mandy: lol, yeah right. You're a guy. I'll bet you do it too.
Mandy: It's okay when guys do it though. If we do it, we're sluts
Josh: I don't do that. Do you?
Mandy: sure you don't. liar:-)
Josh: I've never had sex
Mandy: yeah, right
Josh: I'm serious
Mandy: really?
Josh: swear
Mandy: wow
Mandy: nothing wrong with that though!
Mandy: r u religious?
Josh: not really
Mandy: i c
Josh: so do you?
Mandy: what?
Josh: sleep around?
Mandy: that's a bit personal, isn't it?
Josh: well, I was honest about it
Mandy: still not sure I believe that
Josh: why not?
Mandy: dunno. You're pretty good lookin
Josh: I'm blushing here
Mandy: lol.
Josh: so…
Josh: do you?
Mandy: aaargh!
Josh: what?
Mandy: my little sister is being a pain in the ass. brb
Josh: k
Josh: hello?
Josh: u there?
Josh: talk to you soon
May 18 th, 2010
Josh: Hi Mandy
Mandy: hey there
Mandy: sorry I had to go the other night.
Mandy: Ended up watching a movie with my sister and fell asleep on the couch
Josh: no sweat. What was the movie?
Mandy: eh, just some Jennifer Garner flick. Fell asleep about 20 mins in, lol
Josh: I don't know who Jennifer Garner is
Mandy: wow, you need to get out more, lol
Josh: probably
Mandy: so what you up to?
Josh: looking at your pictures
Mandy: oh yeah? I'm a hottie! lol, j/k
Josh: You are
Mandy: aw thx. ur sweet
Josh: if I was closer, I'd totally take you out
Mandy: yeah?
Josh: yeah
Mandy: my sister says you're cute
Josh: cool
Mandy: says you look a bit like Toby Maguire
Josh: I don't know who that is either
Mandy: Jeez, do you ever watch movies? He was in Spider-Man
Josh: I prefer to read
Mandy: Google Toby Maguire. I'll wait, lol
Josh: ok
Mandy: well?
Mandy: hello?
Josh: I don't look anything like him
Mandy: well, my sis thinks you do
Josh: tell her I said thanks
Mandy: she says you're welcome. She asks if you have a girlfriend
Josh: tell her to ask me herself
Mandy: she is! This is her typing
Josh: no, it isn't
Mandy: now it is! HI! This is Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Josh: hi Sarah.
Mandy: HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Josh: Are you retarded?
Mandy: ur being a dick again
Mandy: what's ur problem? That was my sister talking to you
Josh: Sure
Mandy:???
Mandy: have a good night.
May 20 th, 2010
Josh: you there, Mandy?
Mandy: what do u want?
Josh: to apologize
Mandy: you could save yourself a lot of apologies by not being an asshole in the first place
Josh: I didn't mean to be
Mandy: then why did you?
Josh: I get angry a lot
Mandy: at me? Why?
Josh: at everything. I don't like where I am or what I am and it gets to me. Makes me crazy
Mandy: what are you?
Josh: angry and miserable
Mandy: maybe you should talk to somebody
Josh: I am. You.
Mandy: maybe somebody who could help u with your issues
Josh: you could help me with them
Mandy: not sure I'm qualified
Josh: do you have issues?
Mandy: sure. Everybody does.
Josh: what are yours?
Mandy: I hate my nose, lol
Josh: you have a lovely nose.
Josh: for an anteater
Josh: that was a joke
Mandy: better be. You're on strike two, buddy
Josh: lol
Josh: seriously though, you're beautiful. I've always thought so
Mandy: always? You added me about three weeks ago, lol.
Josh: I knew you before I added you.
Mandy: explain pls
Josh: I remember you from middle school back in Urbana
Mandy: seriously?
Josh: yeah, we were in the same grade for a year
Mandy: wow
Mandy: that's cool!
Josh: you don't remember me, do you?
Mandy: I think so
Josh: no you don't. lol. That's okay though. not many people do.
Josh: my family only moved there in time for me to take the last grade.
Mandy: wow
Josh: yeah
Josh: I think I was in love with you
Mandy: awww, that's so sweet. Why didn't you ever say anything?
Josh: I did
Mandy: what did you say? I don't remember?
Josh: better if we don't go there
Mandy: uh-oh…was I mean?
Josh: a little bit, lol. It's okay though.
Josh: I was awkward as hell in those days. Had a stammer. Probably spat all over you
Mandy: lol. That's cute
Mandy: I'm sorry if I did anything mean. I was a bit spoiled in those days
Josh: no worries
Mandy: so I've gotta get ready
Josh: where u going?
Mandy: staying over at Sue's. not looking forward to it. She's still a mess
Josh: cool. I'll be here for a while, so if you can get online later, I'll chat at ya then.
Mandy: okee dokee. l8r!
May 20 th, 2010
Josh: hi
Mandy: SUP
Josh: how is the sleepover going?
Mandy: UD
Mandy: GUD
Josh: what are you all up to?
Mandy: IGNOREING U
Josh:?
Josh: why?
Mandy: BC UR A FAGET SHIT 4 BRANES
Josh: uh…what?
Mandy: MANDY TOLE ME WAT U SD ABT ME
Josh: is this Sue?
Mandy: WHO D FUCK U THNK U R? U DNT EVN NO ME!!
Josh: Yes I do
Mandy: HOW?
Josh: I know you from school
Mandy: U DNT GO 2 MY SKOOL DICKHEAD
Josh: And you don't go enough, apparently.
Mandy: MY FREIDNS WLL FUCK U UP U MESS W THIS!!!.
Mandy: DNT U DARE TLK SHIT ABT ME!!!
Mandy: U DONT ME OR WAT IM GIONG THRU.
Josh: You're right. I got you confused.
Josh: I only know you from your picture on Mandy's FB.
Josh: You're the one who looks like a diseased crack whore, right?
Mandy: FUCK URSELF PEACE OF SHIT
Josh: maybe if you'd done that, you wouldn't be in the trouble you're in now.
Mandy: CANDY ASS BITCH. ILL BRAKE UR FACE
Josh: Where's Mandy? Can you get her for me? At least she speaks English.
May 21 st, 2010
Mandy: nice job dude
Josh: what?
Mandy: Sue is pissed at u. big time.
Josh: So what? I don't even know her. Or as she would say: U DNT EVN NO ME!!!!!
Mandy: LOL
Mandy: yeah, well I know her
Josh: my condolences
Mandy: she said you were on her friend list
Josh: For a little while, until I started reading her status messages.
Josh: They made me a little queasy. The ones I could understand anyway.
Josh: So I unfriended her.
Mandy: ic
Josh: you probably shouldn't have told her what I said about her
Mandy: I didn't tell her your name. just said a guy on FB I was talking to.
Josh: is that what I am?
Mandy: what?
Josh: a guy on FB you're talking to?
Mandy: what else would u be?
Josh: dunno. Thought we were friends
Mandy: we are, kinda. But I think to be friends you have to have met in real life
Josh: we have met in person, remember?
Mandy: years ago
Josh: so those 1,355 people on your FB are all people you've met in real life?
Mandy: you're giving me a headache. I'm not in the mood for this.
Josh: I could have told Sue what you said about her
Mandy: what did I say?
Josh: You agreed with me about her being a slut
Mandy: No I didn't
Josh: I could email a screenshot to her. How mad would she be then?
Mandy: don't
Josh: why not?
Mandy: fine. Do whatever you want.
Mandy: if you do, I'm unfriending you bc a friend wouldn't do something like that
Josh: I'm kidding
Mandy: u better be. I have enough trouble
Josh: so do you want to meet?
Mandy: I'm tired. Need to sleep. night
Josh: just answer me before you go.
May 22 nd, 2010
Mandy: u there?
Josh: aren't I always lol?
Mandy: Sue's talking shit about u all over FB.
Josh: good for her. Anything to deflect people's attention from her own mistakes
Mandy: yeah. Don't know why she bothers. It's not like u can see it
Josh: I can see it
Mandy: how? She said she blocked u
Josh: she didn't
Mandy: weird. Probably wanted u to see it then
Josh: good for her
Mandy: so how u been?
Josh: down
Mandy: why?
Josh: hard to explain
Mandy: gotcha. Been a rough week here too.
Josh: why?
Mandy: my sister's getting sick.
Mandy: Mom and dad thought it was the summer flu or something
Mandy: but it keeps getting worse. She can hardly go ten minutes without throwing up
Mandy: and now my throat is all scratchy too. I'm freakin out.
Mandy: Hoping it's just food poisoning or something.
Mandy: Last thing I need is to be sick for the prom
Josh: who's taking you to the prom?
Mandy: jeez, you're nosy, lol. It's nobody u know
Josh: then what difference does it make if you tell me?
Mandy: well, I wouldn't want to make u jealous. After all, u said you used to love me
Josh: I still do
Josh: u there?
Josh: Mandy
Mandy: yeah. Just not sure what to say to that.
Josh: say you want me to take you to the prom
Mandy: LOL! You're not even in my school.
Josh: so what?
Mandy: I wish I could. Really
Josh: then wish and it'll happen
Mandy: I've already agreed to go with someone else. Sorry:-(
Josh: no you're not
Mandy: I totally am!
Josh: You're relieved, and maybe a little creeped out right now
Mandy: why creeped out?
Josh: because I creep people out…lol
Mandy: It was sweet of you to ask. Thanks:-)
Mandy: Josh?
Josh: Sure hope you don't get sick.
May 27 th, 2010
Mandy: I think u jinxed me
Josh: how?
Mandy: I'm sick
Josh: sorry to hear that
Mandy: And just had a big screaming match with my parents.
Josh: that sucks
Mandy: ugh, my head fills like it's full of sawdust
Mandy: *feels*
Mandy: even my spelling is sick, lol
Josh: sorry you're sick. you still going to the prom tomorrow night?
Mandy: yeah. I mean, I have to, but it's gonna suck
Josh: maybe you'll be better by then
Mandy: fingers crossed! What're u up to?
Josh: nothing much. Talking to you, lol
Mandy: lol
Mandy: brb
Josh: ok
Josh: you there?
Mandy: sorry, had to go throw up
Josh: ugh
Mandy: lol, sorry. TMI
Josh: what does that mean?
Mandy: too much information
Mandy: I think I need to lie down. Getting dizzy
Josh: I hope you feel better
Mandy: me too. This blows
Josh: I can give you my number if you wanna text me or anything
May 28 th, 2010
Mandy: hey
Mandy: u there?
Mandy: guess I missed you. As you probably figured out, I'm not at the prom.
Mandy: Was hoping you'd be online
Mandy: My date canceled and Sue's not answering the phone.
Mandy: Just wanted to bitch for a while and ev
Mandy: eryone else who didn't go to the prom seems to be offline.
Mandy: Thought about going anyway, but I feel like death
Mandy: I'm just going to crawl into bed and stay there.
Mandy: Who's the girl in ur profile pic, btw?
Mandy: Looks like she's kissing your webcam, lol. Didn't know u had one.
Mandy: So much for you being all innocent, lol! Better not let Sue see that.
Mandy: She'll probably bitch about the girl having the same shirt as she does.
Mandy: anyway, I guess I'll catch you tomorrow. I'm going to go die for a few hours.
Mandy: bye
May 29 th, 2010
Mandy: Josh? Are u there?
Mandy: grrr
Mandy: email me if you get the chance. Hope you're okay.
May 30 th, 2010
Mandy: hey!
Josh: hey
Mandy: you okay?
Josh: yes
Mandy: I missed u over the last few days
Josh: you did?
Mandy: I mean, everytime I msg'd u, you didn't answer
Josh: sorry. Was busy. Forgot to log out last time I was on
Mandy: s'ok. Was just bored and kinda freaked out
Josh: why?
Mandy: I missed the prom
Josh: I saw that. Sorry:-(the guy's a jerk for canceling on you
Mandy: nah, turns out he was sick too.
Josh: sounds like a lame excuse to me
Mandy: Nah, I talked to him on the phone. He's in bad shape.
Mandy: This stupid virus has everybody in bed.
Mandy: There's even rumors going around that people are dying from it.
Mandy: I'm scared.
Mandy: Sue blames Fatty Kathy's food, lol.
Josh: Who's that?
Mandy: the lunch lady at school.
Josh: oh, lol.
Josh: don't be scared. You'll be fine. You should probably be in bed too though.
Mandy: I am in bed. Using my laptop
Josh: so you have me in bed with you?
Mandy: lol, perv
Josh: knew I'd get there eventually!:-)
Mandy: yeah, yeah. Not cool to hit on someone who's dying.
Josh: you're not dying
Mandy: sure feels like it.
Mandy: Ugh. Just caught myself in the mirror. I look like the chick from
Josh: I'll bet you look gorgeous.
Mandy: depends on how you feel about corpses, I guess, LOL.
Josh: I notice Sue hasn't updated her page in a while
Mandy: Yeah. Don't know what's going on.
Mandy: she may have decided to go take care of her problem and just didn't tell anybody.
Mandy: Didn't think she'd skip the prom though.
Mandy: And I thought for sure she'd tell me what was happening. I'd have gone with her.
Josh: She was probably pretty stressed and panicky. Probably just forgot.
Mandy: yeah, true
Mandy: so who's the girl in the pic?
Josh: what pic?
Mandy: you had a new pic up for a while the other night. Saw it before I went to bed.
Mandy: Some girl. Looks like you got over me real quick, LOL!
Josh: hmmm…don't know what you're talking about.
Josh: I haven't changed my picture since the day I set up my account
Mandy: well, someone did.
Josh: maybe I got hacked
Mandy: maybe. The girl kinda looked like Sue.
Mandy: But I could only see the lower half of her face. Looked like she was blowing u a kiss
Josh: Can't say I know what you're talking about
Mandy: wow. Crazy.
Josh: what would be crazy would be me putting a picture of SUE as my profile image.
Mandy: yeah, that's true. She'd say you had the hots for her.
Josh: I have the hots for you, Mandy, not her. She's a pig.
Mandy: you're an oddball;-)
Mandy: and a flirt
Josh: why?
Mandy: you don't even know me
Josh: feels like I do. I've wanted you for a long time
Mandy:…
Mandy: wow. I don't know what to say
Josh: Say "Josh, I can no longer resist the urge to throw myself into your arms."
Josh: "Take me away to a better place where we may be united in passion"
Josh: "the lies of which would set the very world aflame!"
Josh: or something like that
Josh: *likes* instead of *lies*, sorry
Mandy: LMAO!
Mandy: you should go into writing romance. You're good at it
Josh: nah, not my field of interest
Mandy: what is then?
Josh: not sure yet. Psychology maybe
Mandy: you want to be a shrink?
Josh: they don't like to be called that
Mandy: sorry:-(
Josh: I'm totally kidding
Mandy::-)
Josh: I'm not sure yet what I want to do.
Josh: I know I love to study people, love finding out what makes them tick
Josh: love to watch them.
Mandy: what got you interested in that?
Josh: my dad was one
Mandy: was?
Josh: he died six weeks ago
Mandy: WHAT???
Mandy: OMFG…I'm so sorry…
Mandy: I was talking to you about, like, two weeks after that.
Mandy: OMG, why didn't you TELL me????
Mandy: Jesus…I feel like such a horrible person…
Josh: Don't.
Mandy: why didn't you say anything?????:-(
Josh: Why would I? So you could feel bad about it too?
Mandy: I could have done SOMETHING
Josh: Like what? Would it have made you change your mind about meeting me?
Josh: dating me?
Josh: going to the prom with me?
Mandy: I don't know.
Josh: Yes you do, and it's okay.
Josh: u there?
Mandy: yeah. I just don't know what to say, lol.
Josh: It's okay. Really. I'm dealing with it in my own way.
Mandy: how is your Mom holding up? Is she okay?
Josh: she died when I was nine. Cancer.
Mandy: oh god…I'm crying here. I'm so sorry.
Josh: it's okay. Really it is. I'm doing just fine. And you're not really crying
Mandy: No, but I'm really sad for you
Josh: I'm okay, really. I'm a strong person
Mandy: still sucks though.
Josh: yeah, it does, but that's life
Josh: So…
Josh: now will you go out with me?
Mandy: Josh…
Josh: I'm kidding;-)
Mandy: so who do you live with now?
Josh: No one
Mandy: what? How is that possible?
Josh: It's only temporary. I'll be in a better place soon.
Mandy: That sounds…
Josh: what?
Mandy: gloomy
Josh: lol, I don't mean it like that. I mean, better than this crappy house
Mandy: Glad to hear that.
Mandy: hate to do this, but can you give me a half hour?
Josh: sure. U ok?
Mandy: I'm gonna go try to eat something and hope I can keep it down. Will you be on later?
Josh: most likely
Mandy: okay. c u then
May 30 th, 2010
Mandy: back
Mandy: did I miss u again?
Mandy: going to bed. Talk soon…and sorry to hear about what you've been through.
Mandy: sorry I wasn't more sympatethic(sp?). I didn't know, though. so…my bad L
Mandy: night
May 31 st, 2010
Mandy: hey
Josh: hey beautiful
Mandy: ugh…if you saw me now…
Josh: if I saw you now, I'd try to kiss u better. Would u stop me?
Mandy: prolly not
Josh: really???!!!! why?
Mandy: so sick. Wouldn't have the enrgy…
Josh: you're not getting any better?
Mandy: worse
Josh: that's too bad
Mandy: yeah. Sue's in hospital
Josh: about the pregnancy?
Mandy: no
Josh:?
Mandy: she went to sleep and her mother couldn't wake her up. They say she's in a coma.
Josh: wow, that's crazy
Mandy: yeah. I should feel sadder than I do, but I can barely breathe. Feels like I have a fvre
Mandy: fevere
Mandy: fever
Mandy: Don't know what's going on. Nobody seems to know. Lots of people getting sick
Josh: I know what's going on
Mandy: yeah?
Josh: Yeah
Mandy: that's cuz you're a genius
Josh: can I come over?
Mandy: silly
Josh: I can make u better
Josh: if u let me
Mandy: everybody is sick
Josh: yes they are
Mandy: I don't want to die
Josh: you won't
Mandy: feels like I am
Mandy: are u sick?
Josh: I've always been sick, Mandy
Mandy: what u mean?
Josh: you need to let me come over
Mandy: need to sleep
Josh: do you love me?
Mandy: nite
June 2 nd, 2010
Josh: hello gorgeous
June 4 th, 2010
Josh: Hey
Mandy: so sad
Mandy: sue died
Josh: I know. Saw her Dad's post on her page. Are you okay?
Mandy: no
June 5 th, 2010
Josh: hey
Mandy: h
Josh: how are you?
Mandy: nt god
Josh: not good?
Mandy: s
Mandy: so
Mandy: sick
Josh: awww…why are you on FB?
Mandy: dunno. Nobdy esle 2 talk 2
Josh: I should come over
Mandy: y?
Josh: so I can make you feel better
Mandy: can't
Josh: sure I can
Mandy: mean, cant come ovr
Josh: why?
Mandy: dunno
June 6 th, 2010
Josh: do you love me, Mandy?
Mandy: no
Josh: why?
Mandy: jst…
Josh: why not, Mandy?
Mandy: dunno. Don't knw u
Josh: yes you do
Josh: I want to help you, but you have to let me
Mandy: my hair falling out
Josh: Can I be honest with you?
Mandy: ys
Josh: I've been lying to you
Mandy:?
Josh: I've never been to Urbana
Mandy: k
Josh: But I have met you
Mandy: whre?
Mandy: brb
Josh: My parents have both been dead for years, for longer than you've been alive, actually
Josh: The picture you saw on my profile that night was Sue. She sent it to me.
Josh: Sent me a bunch. Usually of her naked, but I couldn't put that one up
Josh: you'd have gotten really suspicious…lol
Mandy:?
Mandy:?
Mandy: wat?
Josh: Do you love me, Mandy?
Mandy: stop
Mandy: plz
Mandy: hurts
Josh: I was flirting over and back with her a long time before I started chatting with you.
Josh: She looked slutty every day I saw her, with those tight sweaters and skirts
Josh: so I chose her first. But she's thick as a tree stump and an ignorant little bitch
Josh: so I left her hanging in the wind.
Josh: So you know the "online boyfriend" who dumped her? That was me.
Mandy: wtf?
Josh: Only she knew me as Donny.
Mandy: I hve 2 go. Gng 2 b sick
June 7 th, 2011
Josh: hi!
Mandy: leve me alone Josh
Josh: My name isn't Josh
Josh: I'm going to tell you my real name, because I really do love you
Josh: But first you have to tell me you love me too.
Josh: Mandy?
Josh: Answer me.
Josh: I know you're there. Just tell me you love me.
Josh: Just once, and I promise I'll leave you alone.
Josh: And I swear on my life that I'll make your pain go away.
Josh: Mandy?
Josh: you have five seconds before I sign off. After that, you'll never know
Mandy: knw wat?
Josh: who killed you and your friends
Mandy: plz. plz stop. My skin…I'm brning. I'm so sick
Josh: do you love me?
Josh: Mandy?
Josh: Mandy? Do you love me?
Josh: Say you love me
Mandy: I lv u
Josh: that's my beautiful girl. I love you too. Do you know that?
Mandy: ys.
Mandy: I dunno
Mandy: Y r u doin this?
Josh: do you feel it past the pain? Do you feel it deep inside your heart where it matters most?
Mandy: stop
Josh: okay, my love.
Josh: My name is Kathleen Myer.
Josh: But you probably know me better as Fatty Kathy.
Mandy: no r not
Josh: Yes. I am. And the police will probably be here soon, so try not to interrupt me.
Mandy: this is cruel stop pretndng
Josh: I promise you, I'm not
Mandy: o god
Mandy: plz
Mandy: stop
Josh: and what's killing you is thallium nitrate,
Josh: introduced into your system via my homemade chicken soup.
Josh: Do you remember the soup, Mandy? Sue even had the gall to complain to me about it.
Mandy: why? o god y r u doinng this?
Josh: because they don't deserve to be beautiful.
Josh: They've never worked a day in their lives and they never will.
Josh: Everything they want will just fall into their laps.
Josh: Nobody ever gave me a goddamn THING, Mandy.
Josh: I had to WORK, to BEG, and sometimes worse, for anything I got.
Josh: And what do I have NOW? Nothing. Scars, moles, diabetes
Josh: And ugliness your friends exploit for laughs.
Josh: they were rotten on the inside, baby girl.
Josh: But I never saw YOU laugh at me, and join in their cruelty.
Josh: Knew you were beautiful and different. Knew you had to be mine. I wanted you.
Josh: Wanted to BE you.
Mandy: my parents r cllng the police
Mandy: so if ths a joke stop now
Josh: it's too late for that. Remember what I wrote?
Josh: You laughed and said I should be a romance writer?
Josh: "Take me away to a better place where we may be united in passion
Josh: the likes of which would set the very world aflame!"
Josh: Remember? Well, I do write romance stories. I have, for years.
Josh: Sitting here in this rotten little house with my clothes still stinking of grease
Josh: writing down my dreams for nobody but me to read.
Josh: Well this one isn't a dream. This is the REAL romance. You and me, my precious little girl.
Josh: We're going to be together very soon. I'm the angel that's taking you away from all of this.
Josh: Just us. Forever
Josh: I did this for both of us, to set us free and bring us to a place
Josh: where ugliness won't matter because our souls will be one and the same.
Josh: and we'll both be beautiful
# # #
Shortly after the last exchange between Mandy Ruminek and "Josh", Mandy was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her sister later made a full recovery. In all, thirty-one students suffered thallium poisoning at the hands of cafeteria worker Kathleen "Fatty Kathy" Myer. Of those, seven died.
Investigators later confirmed that Kathleen Myer had been the author of the instant messages to Mandy Ruminek and Sue Patterson. Myer, 56, was described as morose and irritable, and had a history of mental problems for which she was still receiving treatment. Two hours after Mandy Ruminek was admitted to the emergency unit, local authorities received, via email, screenshots of the conversations she had had with Myers. They were accompanied by a message:
Come find my remains.
I don't envy you your search for answers.
Sometimes there aren't any.
I'm with her now, and we are at peace
Kathleen Angelica Myer
Myer was later found dead at her keyboard. She had suffered a heart attack as a result of a large dose of thallium. In the rundown house on North High Street, in which she'd lived alone, investigators recovered a plastic tub in which traces of thallium nitrate were detected, and over a hundred handbound manuscripts, all of which contained Myer's handwritten romance novels.
There was no suicide note.
Among the scant few pictures on the walls of Myer's home was one of a teenage boy, later identified by a neighbor as Myer's brother, who died in the car accident that claimed their parents in 1969.
The boy's name was Josh.
At the time of this printing, and despite ongoing protests by the parents of the victims, eleven of Kathleen Myer's novels are scheduled for posthumous publication.
Two of them have been optioned for film.
Born and raised in Dungarvan, Ireland, Kealan Patrick Burke is an award-winning author described as "a newcomer worth watching" (
Some of his works include the novels KIN, MASTER OF THE MOORS, CURRENCY OF SOULS and THE HIDES, the novellas THE TURTLE BOY (Bram Stoker Award Winner, 2004), VESSELS, MIDLISTERS, and JACK & JILL, and the collections RAVENOUS GHOSTS, THEATER MACABRE, and THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA & OTHERS (Bram Stoker Award-Nominee, 2009).