Samantha Kelly Commits Suicide After Being Taunted About Rape Allegations

(Nov. 10) -- A 14-year-old girl who was taunted by classmates after she accused an older student of rape has committed suicide, Detroit media reported.

Samantha Kelly, a freshman at Huron High School, hanged herself Monday in her family's mobile home in Huron Township, Mich., according to reports in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.

Other students had harassed her and called her a liar after they learned that she was the accuser in the case against Joseph Tarnopolski, 18, a senior at the school.

"They all took sides," Sheila Little, a 17-year-old senior, told the Detroit news. "Her friends left her because they said she was lying. It's obvious this pressure had a real impact on her."

Tarnopolski was arrested last month and charged with third-degree criminal assault. After he was released on bond on Oct. 12, he returned to Huron High School.

On Twitter, Tarnopolski had blamed "liars" for his treatment.

"All girls are, are liars and backstabbers! I hate you all. Way to ruin my life. Seriously, now this will be on my record for life!" he tweeted on Sept. 28, according to the News.

A judge in Romulus today dismissed the charge against Tarnopolski. The Wayne County prosecutor's office said it could not proceed without Kelly.

"Without the victim. we're unable to go forward with the case," said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Miller said prosecutors did not know Kelly was being harassed until after a local TV broadcast ran an interview that identified the girl's mother.

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"Although the child's face was not seen, when the mother was interviewed, essentially the child's identity was revealed," Miller told the News. "After the broadcast, it is our understanding that the child was harassed at school."

After today's hearing, Tarnopolski told WJBK, the local Fox station, he was sorry to hear of Kelly's death. "I'm sad it happened, but there's not much I can do," he said.

The girl's mother, June Justice, screamed obscenities at Tarnopolski as he left the courthouse, according to WXYZ, the ABC station in Detroit.

"My daughter did not get any justice before this and she did not ain't getting justice now," she said.