News Rutgers freshman suicide after roommate broadcast gay sexual encounter online? - Page 13

**jAZ** · 09-29-2010, 11:34 PM

Wow. Prank gone waaay wrong.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...gers_post.html

Rutgers freshman is presumed dead in suicide after roommate broadcast gay sexual encounter online

Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 5:42 PM
Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

PISCATAWAY — A Rutgers University freshman appears to have killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate broadcast live images of the 18-year-old having a sexual encounter with another man on the internet, according to campus and law enforcement sources.

Tyler Clementi, 18, of Ridgewood, is presumed dead after his car, cell phone and computer were found near the George Washington Bridge last week, law enforcement sources said. His wallet was found on the walkway adjacent to the New York-bound lanes. In a statement released this afternoon, Clementi’s family confirmed the suicide and said his body has not been found.

Dharun Ravi, 18, of Plainsboro, and Molly Wei, 18, of Princeton, were charged with two counts each of invasion of privacy for setting up a camera in a dorm room on Sept. 19 and using it to view and transmit a live sex scene, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan.

Paul Mainardi of Woodbury, the Clementi family's attorney, said Ravi and Clementi were roommates at Rutgers.

Ravi's Twitter feed on that date referred to seeing his roommate have sex with another man in their room on the Piscataway campus, classmates said.

"Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly's room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay," Ravi said on his Twitter page in a Sept. 19 entry posted at 6:17 p.m.

Two days later, Ravi posted another entry directing his nearly 150 Twitter followers to iChat, an internet messaging service with a live video feed.

"Anyone with iChat, I dare you to video chat me between the hours of 9:30 and 12. Yes it's happening again," Ravi wrote in the Sept. 21 post.

Ravi's Twitter feed has since been taken down. But the entries survived in a cached version of the page still available through Google's search engine this afternoon.

Prosecutors said Ravi and Wei set up a camera on Sept. 19 and broadcast live images of Clementi having a "sexual encounter." Ravi is also accused of trying unsuccessfully to broadcast a second sex scene Sept. 21.

The Clementi family released a statement this afternoon. "Tyler was a fine young man, and a distinguished musician. The family is heartbroken beyond words. They respectfully request that they be given time to grieve their great loss and that their privacy at this painful time be respected by all," it said.

"The family and their representatives are cooperating fully with the ongoing criminal investigations of two Rutgers University students," the statement said.

Clementi was an accomplished violinist who had received a college scholarship from the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra for his musicianship and leadership.
The violinist left a lasting impression with some in the Bergen County town, said Hiro Kagei, 17, who played in the orchestra with the teenager. A solo Clementi played in a concert last year "blew the audience away," he said.

"Now that he’ dead, it’s sad to think we won’t hear something like that anymore," Kagei said.

On the Rutgers campus, classmates described Clementi as quiet. At a mandatory dorm meeting called the day he was reported missing, only three students said they had spoken to Clementi since they moved into the dorm last month, according to students who were at the meeting.

Ravi and Wei — who were classmates at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North before enrolling at Rutgers this fall — did not respond to e-mail requests to comment Tuesday. Steve Altman, Ravi’s attorney, also declined to comment.

Ravi surrendered to Rutgers police Tuesday and was released on $25,000 bail, the prosecutor’s office said. Wei surrendered to the campus police Monday and was released on her own recognizance.

Under New Jersey’s invasion-of-privacy laws, it is a fourth degree crime to collect or view images depicting nudity or sexual contact involving another individual without that person’s consent, the prosecutor said. It is a third degree crime to transmit or distribute the images.

If the students are convicted on a third degree offense they could face up to five years in prison each under state law. Conviction on a fourth-degree crime could lead to probation or up to 18 months in prison.

DJ's left nut · 09-30-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Agreed. But let the punishment fit the "crime." Someone commiting suicide as a result of one's stupid actions, should not be a emotional justification to increase the punishment for something less serious than drunk driving, for example....an offense for which the punishment is much less severe than what most here, it seems, would like to see given to these two idiots.

We have consequence-based punishment all the time.

If I get in a DUI accident and the person goes into a coma but miraculously makes a full recovery, I get a vehicular assault charge.

If I get in a DUI accident and the person breaks a leg but an infection sets in causing gangrene and eventual death, I'm gonna get charged with vehicular homicide.

Hell, same wreck twice, but one guy's wearing a seatbelt and walks away unscathed, the other isn't wearing a seatbelt and dies - my punishment will actually vary based on the illegal conduct of the victim.

The system punishes based on the outcome 9 times out of 10.

Mr. Laz · 09-30-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sensitive little sockcucker wasn't he?

at least now he'll never grow up to be a teacher /vailpass

Dante84 · 09-30-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Don't you think there is a difference between taping someone in their private hotel and taping someone in your own room?

Do you think people should be able to place hidden nanny-spy cameras in their home to make sure the babysitter isn't abusing or ignoring your children?

Again, that is not the situation at hand.

Ravi established intent when he posted those tweets. He was not simply "monitoring" his own room; he lost the right to argue that angle when he typed out his intent.

**Donger** · 09-30-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

It's the epitome of immaturity and classlessness.

FAX

No. Far too easy.

Hootie · 09-30-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

His attorneys will simply overwhelm the prosecutor's office and plea out. Happens everyday.

Totally understand this...

That's my point.

Unless the media turns this into a circus...the kid won't spend a day in a jail. In all honesty, I don't think he deserves too, either.

vailpass · 09-30-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

Due to his own choice he'll never grow up /vailpass

fyp

Hootie · 09-30-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metrolike

But it's not like you can't empathize either, man. You're putting yourself in Ravi's shoes. Try and put yourself in the other kid's shoes and imagine you had something extremely embarrassing to you to hide and someone found out and made it public while having a good laugh about it. Shit is ****ed up, man, there's no other way to put it.

I have always had a strong stomach...when I was in 7th grade we had a basketball game...I was sick as hell...but I loved basketball so I played anyways...I requested to be taken from the game and went to the locker room because something wasn't right...I had literally never thrown up before and I was in there and I started spitting up hot saliva uncontrollably...I had no idea what was happening and I panicked...I went out to get my mom because I thought I was dying or something and then it happened...I puked uncontrollably all over the whole ****ing court during the game...in front of everyone...my 7th grade girlfriend...all of the parents...all of my classmates...the entire junior high...

It was embarrassing and I knew I'd probably never live it down...

but what did I do after my mom wouldn't let me stay home from school pretending I was sick anymore???

I MANNED UP AND TOOK THE ABUSE FROM IMMATURE 12 YEAR OLDS LIKE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT DOES!

Some girl gave some kid a rimjob when she was 15 and her name was Rachel...so for the rest of her high school days we called her RJR and everyone knew it stood for Rimjob Rachel...but she lived it up and took her lumps...

AND NEITHER OF US KILLED OURSELVES.

FAX · 09-30-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

I admit...I lack sympathy a lot of the time...sometimes I don't realize how fortunate I am...I understand that is one of my (several) flaws...

Maybe it's just a lack of experience.

Hopefully, you'll never see a friend take his or her own life knowing that there might have been more that you could have done to prevent it. I can tell you that, when that happens, you begin to think very differently about the whole "selfishness" aspect of suicide. There's nothing good about it, believe me. And most certainly, the deep, dark depression that accompanies the act is so sufficiently overwhelming that, ultimately, "blame" isn't really part of the equation. It's like faulting a cancer victim for their illness.

FAX

DJ's left nut · 09-30-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

No. Far too easy.

I'm inclined to agree.

Everyone was immature and had lousy judgment in college. And none of us were immune to top-shelving our roommates on occasion (or something equally nasty).

Not being classy or mature is a hallmark of college life.

That said, this was deranged and mean. This wasn't someone farting when his roommates grandmother was in the room. This wasn't someone giving his roommate shit for an off night in the sack.

This was someone that targeted a known sensitivity with a societal consequence and blasted it to the public at large with the absolute intent of ridiculing a quiet classmate.

It's not classless, it's not immature. It's cruel.

Dante84 · 09-30-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

We have consequence-based punishment all the time.

If I get in a DUI accident and the person goes into a coma but miraculously makes a full recovery, I get a vehicular assault charge.

If I get in a DUI accident and the person breaks a leg but an infection sets in causing gangrene and eventual death, I'm gonna get charged with vehicular homicide.

Hell, same wreck twice, but one guy's wearing a seatbelt and walks away unscathed, the other isn't wearing a seatbelt and dies - my punishment will actually vary based on the illegal conduct of the victim.

The system punishes based on the outcome 9 times out of 10.

I completely agree.

One of my family members is a district attorney. I have discussed cases like this all the time. One in particular:

Two teens snuck behind a guy at the ATM and told him they had a gun and that they wanted his money. The guy at the ATM had a knife, turned and stabbed one of the kids in the chest, and he later died.

The remaining kid ended up being charged with murder, because a person died as a result of the actions he set forth when he committed an illegal act.

Agree or disagree, there is precedent for DJ's point.

I'm not saying Ravi should be charged with murder, because he shouldn't. The suicide was a separate decision and act. However; he clearly established intent to commit the other crimes. For that he is guilty; because of the severity and clear intent, he should be sentenced more severely.

Chiefnj2 · 09-30-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante84

Again, that is not the situation at hand.

Ravi established intent when he posted those tweets. He was not simply "monitoring" his own room; he lost the right to argue that angle when he typed out his intent.

Not exactly.

He only successfully taped it one time. His second attempt failed when the roommate knew about and removed the camera. The first video didn't upset him enough to alter his dating, as he invited someone over again within 48 hours.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-30-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

Well...

I'm sorry man...I don't consider myself homophobic...but I definitely wouldn't want a bunch of gay sex going down in my dorm room when I wasn't there...in fact, it would gross me out and I would definitely transfer/request a different roommate....

That's because you're homophobic.

**Donger** · 09-30-2010, 11:44 AM

Oh, I see. Hootie has "Mommy" issues.

vailpass · 09-30-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's because you're homophobic.

This post makes you logicphobic

**Mr. Kotter** · 09-30-2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

...

It's not classless, it's not immature. It's cruel.

Agreed. Denying preventative healthcare to poor people...and businesses making money off people who don't have the self-control to not gamble are "cruel" too.

Should we send out indictments to folks responsible for those types of cruelty too?

09-29-2010, 11:34 PM
jAZ Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Casino cash: $9817493	Rutgers freshman suicide after roommate broadcast gay sexual encounter online? Wow. Prank gone waaay wrong. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...gers_post.html Rutgers freshman is presumed dead in suicide after roommate broadcast gay sexual encounter online Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 5:42 PM Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger PISCATAWAY — A Rutgers University freshman appears to have killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate broadcast live images of the 18-year-old having a sexual encounter with another man on the internet, according to campus and law enforcement sources. Tyler Clementi, 18, of Ridgewood, is presumed dead after his car, cell phone and computer were found near the George Washington Bridge last week, law enforcement sources said. His wallet was found on the walkway adjacent to the New York-bound lanes. In a statement released this afternoon, Clementi’s family confirmed the suicide and said his body has not been found. Dharun Ravi, 18, of Plainsboro, and Molly Wei, 18, of Princeton, were charged with two counts each of invasion of privacy for setting up a camera in a dorm room on Sept. 19 and using it to view and transmit a live sex scene, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan. Paul Mainardi of Woodbury, the Clementi family's attorney, said Ravi and Clementi were roommates at Rutgers. Ravi's Twitter feed on that date referred to seeing his roommate have sex with another man in their room on the Piscataway campus, classmates said. "Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly's room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay," Ravi said on his Twitter page in a Sept. 19 entry posted at 6:17 p.m. Two days later, Ravi posted another entry directing his nearly 150 Twitter followers to iChat, an internet messaging service with a live video feed. "Anyone with iChat, I dare you to video chat me between the hours of 9:30 and 12. Yes it's happening again," Ravi wrote in the Sept. 21 post. Ravi's Twitter feed has since been taken down. But the entries survived in a cached version of the page still available through Google's search engine this afternoon. Prosecutors said Ravi and Wei set up a camera on Sept. 19 and broadcast live images of Clementi having a "sexual encounter." Ravi is also accused of trying unsuccessfully to broadcast a second sex scene Sept. 21. The Clementi family released a statement this afternoon. "Tyler was a fine young man, and a distinguished musician. The family is heartbroken beyond words. They respectfully request that they be given time to grieve their great loss and that their privacy at this painful time be respected by all," it said. "The family and their representatives are cooperating fully with the ongoing criminal investigations of two Rutgers University students," the statement said. Clementi was an accomplished violinist who had received a college scholarship from the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra for his musicianship and leadership. The violinist left a lasting impression with some in the Bergen County town, said Hiro Kagei, 17, who played in the orchestra with the teenager. A solo Clementi played in a concert last year "blew the audience away," he said. "Now that he’ dead, it’s sad to think we won’t hear something like that anymore," Kagei said. On the Rutgers campus, classmates described Clementi as quiet. At a mandatory dorm meeting called the day he was reported missing, only three students said they had spoken to Clementi since they moved into the dorm last month, according to students who were at the meeting. Ravi and Wei — who were classmates at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North before enrolling at Rutgers this fall — did not respond to e-mail requests to comment Tuesday. Steve Altman, Ravi’s attorney, also declined to comment. Ravi surrendered to Rutgers police Tuesday and was released on $25,000 bail, the prosecutor’s office said. Wei surrendered to the campus police Monday and was released on her own recognizance. Under New Jersey’s invasion-of-privacy laws, it is a fourth degree crime to collect or view images depicting nudity or sexual contact involving another individual without that person’s consent, the prosecutor said. It is a third degree crime to transmit or distribute the images. If the students are convicted on a third degree offense they could face up to five years in prison each under state law. Conviction on a fourth-degree crime could lead to probation or up to 18 months in prison.
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09-30-2010, 11:44 AM	#193
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6879900 VARSITY	Oh, I see. Hootie has "Mommy" issues. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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