TREVORTON - Tragedy struck Line Mountain School District when 17-year-old sophomore Britney Tongel took her own life in her Trevorton home Feb. 16, a death widely believed to have been facilitated by bullying in person and online.
Family and friends claim Tongel was relentlessly harassed, which may have included posts two girls made on a social networking site that suggested she kill herself.
In various news stories surrounding her death, Britney was described as a funny, beautiful girl who, despite her petite form, had a large appetite. Some noted her love for fashion, her passion for shoes and her love for photography. She was on the track team, cross country and basketball teams, and even considered joining the wrestling team.
"She always had the special smile and look to her that made you want to love her," her foster father, Terry Laforme, of Trevorton, said Feb. 20.
The suicide reverberated across the community as new awareness of the consequences of bullying was raised. More than 200 people showed up for a candlelight vigil in Trevorton. Eight Facebook memorial and support sites sprung up with more than 6,500 "likes." The school board hosted several anti-bullying assemblies and eventually revamped the bullying section of the student handbook to include cyberbullying.
Lisa LaForme, Britney's foster mother, started a campaign to spread awareness and planned fundraisers in Britney's name. However, Britney's birth mother and grandmother, Carey Ann Torres and Marguerita Nimlo, both of Berwick, took the issue to court, and Columbia County President Judge Thomas James ruled that LaForme could not use Britney's name and likeness to raise money.
The judge also ruled LaForme couldn't put a headstone she purchased on Britney's grave, but LaForme wasn't deterred.
"I bought the plot next to her and placed it there on her 18th birthday in August," LaForme said recently. "I really appreciate everyone's contributions to it."
LaForme said her health has prevented her from continuing anti-bullying campaigns in the last half of the year, but promises she will get back into the fight as soon as possible.