Daisy Coleman, 23, one of the girls featured in the Netflix documentary Audrie & Daisy, has committed suicide.
Her mother, Melinda Coleman, posted the news on Facebook Tuesday, writing, "My daughter Catherine Daisy Coleman committed suicide tonight. If you saw crazy messages and posts it was because I called the police to check on her. She was my best friend and amazing daughter. I think she had to make it seem like I could live without her. I can’t. I wish I could have taken the pain from her! She never recovered from what those boys did to her and it’s just not fair. My baby girl is gone."
Daisy was 14 years old when she was invited with her friend, Paige, 13, to hang out with some older boys at a house in January 2012. She was allegedly given alcohol and then raped by football player Matthew Barnett, 17, the grandson of a former state representative. Paige was also raped, by a 15-year-old boy. Afterwards, Daisy was left unconscious outside her home, dressed in only a T-shirt and pants. The temperatures were below freezing and by the time she was found, her hair was frozen to the ground.
The documentary shows that Daisy and her family faced so much hostility and vicious online bullying that they had to move away from the town -- and subsequently their house was burned down.
Although Barnett pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment and apologized to Daisy, a local prosecutor said it was just the action of “incorrigible teenagers” and decided there was not enough evidence for a trial. “We did our job,” Sheriff Darren White told media at the time. “It’s unfortunate that they are unhappy. I guess they’re just going to have to get over it.”
The documentary also shows what Audrie Pott, 15, went through after she was videotaped while being sexually assaulted by three or more teenage boys at a house party in September 2012. They drew vulgar sayings all over her body and private areas with indelible markers during the assault. The videos were shared and put online. Because she was out cold, she didn't know why she had marker on her the next day, but after her fellow students saw the video, she was cyberbullied. Distraught that everyone at her high school knew what had happened to her, she committed suicide -- eight days after the assault.
Daisy, who lost her father in a car crash in 2006, faced tragedy again in 2018 when her youngest brother, Tristan, was also killed in a car crash at 19. She wrote on Twitter: "My baby brother is gone. What do I even do. How do I breathe. How do I survive this."
Daisy was one of the founders of the organization safebae.org, which helped survivors and worked to raise awareness about sexual assault among middle and high school students. On their Instagram, the organization said they were "devastated" by her death and that they have "suffered an irreplaceable loss."
Daisy is survived by her mother and two brothers.
It’s shocking how much the boys will be boys thing still goes on - I did not watch the documentary although I think it would hurt to watch that documentary - I shudder to think the type of men those boys have turned into because they got away with it and their parents their community told them it was OK because boys will be boys
It's horrifying. Down south they protect boys, especially football players. They can do no wrong. It might as well be a third world country for the way they treat females. They don't need "honour" killings like they have in the Middle East. These girls are treated so badly, their families made to suffer so much, that they feel the only option is to kill themselves. I watched the documentary and heard some of the testimony of the boys. They sound like nitwits, they can hardly piece two words together. I'm sure they've grown up to be morons with poor jobs, no prospects and a wife and children that they routinely abuse.
Unfortunately, Marie, I doubt they have poor jobs and no prospects. Far too often, people like that get ahead simply through their family and their family connections, especially if they're part of the sports or politics community. This makes me sick but I don't see how it will ever end unless there's support from within those communities.
Yup....some of them go on to be USA supreme court judges. They grow up knowing they are untouchable, golden boys with connections, and that their actions do not have consequences. A few minutes of sadistic satisfaction and lives are ruined, families are devastated and yet these pieces of human garbage will get to simply carry on, and they do so with the support of the legal system and the community. And their victims...well no one cares to help them pick up the pieces and heal, nope they will be vilified because that seems to be the way it is. Good ol' American values...it is beyond sickening. Would not be surprised at all to learn some of them are still abusive.
I feel so horrible for what happened to these girls and the sad thing is this happens way to often and it will not change. The fact that Sheriff Darren White said " I guess they’re just going to have to get over it" proves that they don't and never will care about victims in towns like these because it's ran by sports and the head honcho in charge plus the town always supports the rapists because they can throw a football. I'm disgusted but not surprised
Karma is all I can say - Karma - their day will come as well, it always does!
For what these people did, is something that doesn't just go away. For the sheriff's department, and others who are a part of the problem will face God himself come judgment day. No repentance because they feel justified, God's wrath will be justified.
Justice was not properly served, don't worry God is the get even part, I'd be very afraid of what God is going to do?!
They won't get away with this. Trust me I truly believe when they die, THEY WILL answer to God. R.I.P Daisy
Sherrif Darren White is a disgusting animal and should lose his job. Those boys should be in prison with their parents and all should be registered sex offenders.
To all those who supported the rapist Matthew Barnett, shame on you.
Absolutely disgusting how these boys got away with it. When u have grown men who don’t see a problem with raping an unconscious girl then there will be no change. Not until it happens to their wife or daughter, and even then it may not register, will you see outrage at it.
You know EVERYDAY the SO-CALLED Supreme Nation in the world called the United States of America shows HOW MUCH OF AN ASSHOLE COUNTRY THEY REALLY ARE!!!!! Just look at ALLLLLLL the injustices going on their with Blacks and minority people with stupid ass police violence to TONS OF RACISM ALL OVER THEIR RACIALLY BACKWARDS COUNTRY!!! To how these extremely innocent young girls get thrown into a HELL OF A LIFE at such a young age!!! MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO AUDRIE, DAISY & PAIGE AND THEIR FAMILIES......AND ALL THE OTHER GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH SUCH HORRIBLE THINGS AND THEN GET BULLIED ONLINE TOO FROM THESE IGNORANT HEARTLESS ASSHOLES TOO!!!!!! I am a Muslim Man who grew up and lives in Canada and I know this type of stuff sometimes happens here too....but NOT TO THE EXTENT OF REGULARITY it does in the United SNAKES of America!!! Just look at HOW MANY armed forces from the US commit suicide on a daily basis.....most reports say 20+.....20+ ARMED FORCES men and women that return home from KILLING SOOOOOO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILIES AND DESTROY TOWNS AND CITIES IN THE NAME OF WHAT???? The US SO CALLED JUSTICE??? SO ASK YOURSELVES WHY OH WHY ARE 20+ A DAY COMMITTING SUICIDES DAILY?!?!?! my guess would be from ALLLLLLLLL THE INJUSTICES THEY'VE SEEN AND DONE TO SOOOOO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THE NAME OF THE GOD DAM US FLAG!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot imagine the grief and horror going through your minds --- I hope they they end up getting what is due them . The problem is that they are not hard enough on creatures like them. I am so sorry , please accept our profound sympathies ---- may you get peace . Reign
I saw the Netflix doc when it came out. It was tragic and very moving. Daisy seemed like a very strong kid and I was glad that she pulled through what happened to her. It's so sad that it still stuck her after all this time. May she finally be at peace.
Crazy to think nobody does anything personally I'd handle that business with the boys says it in the bible
I cried as I read this. There are no words for what these girls had to go through and the devastation that ensued. You don't just get over this kind of violation. It stays with you forever. If the perpetrators are not brought to justice it sends the message that their lives are more important than those of their victims. These kinds of boys have enablers and are able to go on with their lives while their victims suffer and often feel like the only way out is suicide. My deepest sympathies to the girls' families.
Parents of children who have been raped should execute the offenders. Bullet therapy. Case closed. Lets teach our daughters how to kill with their bare hands..if she is unconcious when violated..then mom or dad does the deed..and goes to jail...I would rather serve time for murdering a rapist than allow my daughter to endure this! As as society..we need to push back..and defend our children with our lives
I just heard her mother committed suicide. That's an entire family dead. I hope the boys responsible for this feel remorse for what they did. They didn't just rape little girls. They are responsible killed for Daisy's and mother's deaths. That's a lot of bad karma to spread for one stupid and senseless act. This whole story is horrific and unless predators who commit crimes like this pay for them, the families of the victims never get peace. The predators should be dead, not these innocent people.
As long as law enforcement & prosecutors are predominantly male in a patriarchal misogynistic society, women will NEVER get justice. If you or a loved one are sexually assaulted and do not get justice, vigilantism is your only recourse. If you do not kill or hobble him, he will do it over & over & over….