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Fla. sheriff charges dead 12-year-old’s alleged bullies

Posted at 11:38 AM, Oct 16, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-16 16:38:39-04

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CBS News) -- Two Florida girls who police said were primarily responsible for bullying a 12-year-old girl who killed herself are facing criminal charges.

Police arrested the girls Tuesday after comments on Facebook lead them to the suspects, but also said as 15 girls may have been involved in the bullying.

Rebecca Sedwick, who would have celebrated her 13th birthday on Saturday, jumped to her death from a tower at an abandoned concrete factory last month.

Now two of her classmates, a 14 and a 12-year-old, face charges for what they allegedly did before Sedwick took her own life.

Police charged the two girls with felony aggravated stalking after investigators said they found a message on one of the suspects Facebook page over the weekend.

“Yes, I bullied Rebecca and she killed herself. But I don't give a *****."

As a result, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said he had to take action.

"We decided we can't leave her out there,” said Judd. “Who else is she going to torment? Who else is she going to harass? "

The 14-year-old suspect denies writing the post and said someone hacked her Facebook page.

Sedwick's mother said she believes the girls harassed Rebecca at school, until she couldn't take it anymore.

"It makes me question where they learned it from,” said Norman. “I mean you gotta, kids learn it from somewhere."

John Borgen said he dated Rebecca and one of the suspects.  Police say that is likely what prompted the bullying.

"They need to take life seriously and they need to stop bullying,” said Borgen. “Why you got to bully somebody?"