Devastated boy Tysen Benz, 11, killed himself ‘after his 13-year-old girlfriend FAKED her own death in horrific social media prank’
The mum of tragic Tysen Benz claims he died after falling for the sick social media prank
THE distraught mum of an 11-year-old boy who hanged himself claims his girlfriend, 13, had pretended to kill herself in a sick social media prank.
Tysen Benz, from Michigan, US, died on Tuesday after his life support was switched off three weeks after he is believed to have tried to kill himself.
His heartbroken mum Katrina Goss urged people to keep her son's spirit alive by "fighting against social media bullying".
She alleges that Tysen's girlfriend used her and their friends' social media accounts to convince him that she had killed herself before he took his own life.
Goss told the : "She did a prank that made it look like she killed herself and used other friends and their [social media] accounts to make it look like she killed herself.
"So, he believed her and said, 'I’m going to kill myself.'"
The Post reports that a juvenile has been charged with malicious use of a telecommunications device and using a computer to commit a crime by Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Tysen was put on a life support machine after attempting to take his own life on March 14 in Michigan, USA, and died in hospital three weeks later.
A fundraising page set up to pay for the family's medical bills has already raised nearly £25,000.
His mother describes Tysen on the page as an "athlete, comedian, friend, brother, charismatic and all around amazing child".
Goss, from Marquette, wrote: "On Tuesday March 14th he (Tysen) impulsively chose to end his own life as a result of a horrific act of a social media prank which is under investigation by authorities.
"He clung on with the help of life support until Tuesday April 4.
"He has now been set free and can rest in peace.
"He was loved by everyone he knew and he will absolutely never be forgotten.
"Our family is completely heartbroken.
"I urge families to speak out, reach out and communicate with your children about life's precious gift and the dangers of the internet and texting and how telecommunications can have the same effects as speaking face to face.
"I want Tysen to be remembered as he was and all the joy he's brought to everyone.
"Keep his spirit alive by standing strong and fighting against social media bullying."
A tragic 14-year-old girl Nyah James was found dead in Swansea, Wales, after been bullied via Facebook and Snapchat according to her mum.
Do you need help? Contact The Samaritans on 116 123 or visit . PAPYRUS HOPELineUK also provides confidential suicide prevention advice and support to young people and others worried about them tel 0800 068 4141 text 07786 209 697 email [email protected].