Guide Note

Lori Drew, along with an employee, Ashley Grills, allegedly created the fictional MySpace personality, Josh Evans, who developed an online relationship with 13-year-old Megan Meier.

In January, 2008, it was reported that federal prosecutors sought to charge Ms. Drew with fraud for creating the Josh Evans account. She was formally charged on May 15, 2008. On June 16, she filed a plea of "not guilty". Drew claims that though she knew about the fake profile, she was not involved and did not send any of the messages.

Fast Facts

1. Age: 49
2. Lives 4 houses away from Meier family in Missouri
3. Pretended to be Josh Evans, a 16-year-old boy who was interested in Megan
4. Evans-Meier relationship began September 2006
5. Befriended, then taunted and dumped Meier
6. Meier committed suicide on October 16, 2006

1. One count of conspiracy
2. Three counts of accessing a computer without authorization and via interstate commerce to obtain information to inflict emotional distress
3. Each count is worth a maximum penalty of five years in jail
4. Arraignment is scheduled for June

Evans and Meier had an online romance, which turned abusive in the fall of 2006. After breaking up with Evans, Meier committed suicide by hanging herself in her closet. Ms. Drew maintains she initiated the online relationship to determine how Megan felt about her daughter, Sarah.

On April 1, 2008, Grills publicly admitted to creating the Evans profile on Good Morning America, and named Lori Drew and Drew's as the other people behind it. According to ABC News, Grills was granted immunity for her testimony against Drew, who was never charged in the case.

On May 15, 2008, a federal grand jury charged Drew with one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress.