Missouri Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Internet Suicide Case

June 17, 2008 10:28 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - Lori Drew, the Mo. woman involved in the suicide of a teenage girl, plead not guilty Monday to government charges she comitted Internet fraud and conspiracy that inflicted emotional distress.

Drew, 49, was indicted in May under the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a law normally used to prosecute hackers that break into government computers.

The government charges Drew created a fake MySpace account as Josh Evans and then using it to send distressful messages to 13-year-old Megan Meier, a friend of Drew's daughter.

In October, 2006. Meier hanged herself after receiving a message from "Josh" that said "the world would be a better place" without her in it.

Drew was released on $20,000 bail while she awaits a June 29 trial.