- Kevin Whitrick
Infobox Person
name = Kevin Whitrick
caption = Kevin Whitrick
birth_date = birth date|1964|8|17|df=yes
birth_place = Cross House,Shrewsbury
death_date = death date and age|2007|3|21|1964|8|17|df=yes
death_place = Wellington,Telford ,Shropshire ,UK
occupation =Engineer
spouse = Paula
parents =
children =Kevin Neil Whitrick (
August 17 ,1964 -March 21 ,2007 ) was a British citizen and anelectrical engineer . cite web|url=http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article1560877.ece |title=Get on with it, said net audience as man hanged himself on webcam |accessdate=2007-05-27 |last=Bale |first=Joanna |date=2007-03-24 |work=Times Online |publisher=Times Newspapers Ltd ] He is believed to be the first and only person to have committed a cyber suicide live via awebcam on an internet chat site. [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/shropshire/6509523.stm
title=Inquest held after webcam death
date=2007-03-30
work=BBC News |accessdate=2007-05-27 ]Biography
Marriage and children
At the time of his death, he was survived by his former wife, Paula, and 12-year-old twins.
uicide
On the day of his death, Kevin Whitrick was in a
chatroom onPaltalk and was joined by about 50 other users in a special "insult" chatroom where people "have a go at each other".cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23390052-details/British+man+commits+suicide+on+live+webcam/article.do |title=Chatroom users 'egged on father to kill himself live on webcam' |accessdate=2007-05-27 |date=2007-03-21 |work=This is London |publisher=Associated Newspapers Ltd ] He punched a hole in his ceiling and placed a rope around a joist and around his neck, then stepped off a chair. Some people thought this was a prank, until his face started turning blue. Some people in the chat room egged him on while others tried desperately to find his address. A member in the room contacted the police, who arrived at the scene within minutes. Kevin Whitrick was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. GMT.Aftermath
The death has been widely reported in the press and is notable due to the fear of it inspiring other suicides, [ [http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/25/3828482-sun.html Live hanging shown on web - Alberta suicide-prevention groups brace for copycat deaths] ] the possibility of the webcam footage being made available on the internet, [ [http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=256671 Keep online suicide footage offline: police] ] and discussions over the culpability of web users who encouraged the man.
The police detectives traced about 100 chatroom users to question them about their role in the cyber suicide. [cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21445333-2703,00.html |title=Police consider charging chatroom users for inciting cyber suicide |accessdate=2007-05-27 |last=Ungoed-Thomas |first=Jon |date=2007-03-26 |work=The Australian ] The Crown Prosecution Service has stated that none of the chatroom users will face criminal charges. [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/shropshire/6695197.stm |title=No charges over 'suicide' on web |accessdate=2007-05-27 |date=2007-05-26 |work=BBC News ]References
External links
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/6491787.stm Appeal over webcam death images]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/24/nchatroom24.xml Chatroom user films his suicide on internet]
* [http://www.townhall.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?contentGUID=0ebee4c9-f41d-4b30-96c8-69c0055efced Man Hangs Himself While Using Chat Room]
* [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007130846,00.html Sad dad hangs himself on web]Persondata
NAME=Whitrick, Kevin Neil
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Shyboy-17-1
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Electrical Engineer
DATE OF BIRTH=17 August 1964
PLACE OF BIRTH=Cross Houses Shrewsbury
DATE OF DEATH=21 March 2007
PLACE OF DEATH=Wellington, Shropshire ,England ,United Kingdom
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