Though three 16 year-old boys have been arrested for raping 15 year-old Audrie Pott, and posting photographs of the alleged attack on Facebook, the family feels its far too little too late as Audrie killed herself after the attack, as reported by CNN.
The family is filing a wrongful death lawsuit according to their attorney Robert Allard.
The alleged rape occurred during a house party in Saratoga, California. There was no adult supervision in the home. Pott allegedly consumed enough alcohol that she passed out and the three boys raped her while she was unconscious.
Allard commented, "We intend to prove in court of law, that their actions ... broke her. She couldn't handle it, and she did the worst thing a parent can imagine – she took her life."
Some of the photographs taken at the party were brought to Pott's school and texted to others. Pott knew that students saw at least one photograph of the attack itself. Seven days later she committed suicide.
Jose Cardoza, the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office spokesman, announced that three boys are facing two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge of sexual battery.
The owners of the home where the party took place will be named as defendants in the lawsuit, according to the Potts. They were allegedly out of town but the teenagers had full access to their liquor cabinet.
After the photos were posted on Facebook, Pott also took to her own Facebook page to share her feelings. According to her stepmother, L.P., Pott had written, "My life is ruined…I can't do anything to fix it…I just want this to go away…The whole school knows…I have a reputation I can never get rid of…The boys can die in a hole for all I care…They knew how bad I was…I don't want to remember…I have a reputation for a night I don't even remember."
L.O. added that Audrie "made her feelings clear in the messages (we) were left to find. The three people who were arrested are responsible for her death."
Audrie's father is also asking for witnesses to help him to understand what happened the night of her rape. He asked that they "come forward, do the right thing."
By making her name public the family believes that in telling "her story and death could help others… She was so full of life, there was no denying when Audrie walked into a room. She would light it up, always. Audrie filled our house with family and laughter…"
After the rape, according to another Pott attorney Lauren Cerri, Audrie "had no idea what occurred until she woke up the following morning and had some drawings on her body and in some private areas."
A fellow student, S.I., commented to reporters that there were discussions at Audrie's school about who had been involved and why they were still attending school. S.I. said, "That it took that long (for an arrest) was pretty ridiculous. It was maybe half a year. I find that really, really disturbing."
This is a gut-wrenching case of wrongful death. However you may have lost a loved one, if you suspect that it was due to the fault of another party contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case right away!