‘Suicide’ shocks web community
Friday 23rd March 2007, 11:29AM GMT.
The apparent internet “suicide” of Shropshire man Kevin Whitrick has caused shockwaves on website chatrooms around the world.
The alarm was raised by an internet user who contacted West Midlands Police as Mr Whitrick started harming himself in front of his webcam late on Wednesday night.
Officers contacted police in Telford who broke into Mr Whitrick’s flat in Orleton Court, Wellington and tried unsuccessfully to revive him.
There was an immediate flurry of activity on website chatrooms where users were commenting on Mr Whitrick’s death and seeking information about it.
One chatroom called Kels Frienddly Chat on www.paltalk.com had a fast-flowing discussion about the issue today under the subject heading RIP Kevin.
An e-mail to the Shropshire Star suggested this was the website on which Mr Whitrick had appeared on Wednesday night.
Some of the anonymous users were clearly journalists seeking information by pretending to be ordinary members of the chatroom.
But their cover was quickly blown and users warned each other about them.
There were several comments critical of journalists and someone called Captain Frank declared: “This room is full of reporters.”
But other chatroom users were apparently keen to try to make some money from national newspapers through chequebook journalism.
Among the comments today was a posting by papermanuk who said: “I’m on the phone to the News of the World. I’m going to make a buck on this.”
Other users expressed a desire to help police with their investigation into Mr Whitrick’s death.
One user – fireangel205 – even issued an appeal for anyone with information to contact police on 08457 444888 – the usual number used by police in Telford and the rest of Shropshire.
The Shropshire Star was also mentioned, with users pointing out that the newspaper had named the dead man. And one user, “Phil Mcrevice”, told the chatroom: “This is serious guys.”
Police are yet to establish whether Mr Whitrick meant to kill himself.
International authorities are increasingly worried about the trend for internet suicide. There is a growing number of websites and chatrooms with names such as “Suicide Club” where people plan their deaths.
By Peter Johnson
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
this type of internet site should shut down and made illegal worldwide apart from this i think it is illegal in this country to help someone to commit suicide which is what sites such as this do,so how about it police officers ARREST AND CHARGE THE SITE AND OR DOMAIN OWNERS?.it will be interesting to see if they do so.
Report abuse
i have been into that chat room many times and users on there try to befriend u and try to get personal information from u and then they tell everyone in the room and start insulting you and using personal imformation agaisnt you . i remeber a year ago that one person was telling kevin that he is a loser cos he cant keep a job and hes lost his family and hes nothing but a drunken fool.
These people are sad who get a kick out of insulting people . i hear a man mr merc say the other day we have to on good behaviour cos the room could get closed down . hmmm who will be the next victim? and puma egging kevin to kill himself should be ashamed of himself you could see that kevin was being serious . these people have to be stopped they are bullys who get a kick at insulting people and putting people down to make them selfs feel better . i will never ever go on that chat room again . god bless kevin and his family
Report abuse
Kels frienddly chat room was the first room I ever went into,”frienddly” thats a joke I was insulted by mr merc, listened to puma threatening to shoot ghost it was awful many people have complained to paltalk about this particular chat room, but nothing ever seems to be done. However dont judge paltalk as a bad chat programme I have made & met some lovely people I use it every day that is just 1 bad room out of thousands on paltalk. I was shocked to hear of the death of this man.
Report abuse
Amazing what the press can write what they don’t know anything! I have been coming to this room for 4 years. This last year having gone through a divorce I found it very comforting. You maynot think these people care by the insults you hear but you would be surprised how tight they all are. They know about each others husbands, wives, dogs, cats, etc. Some have met in person. Sometimes, they remind each other they are in an insult room because they do care!!! I never saw Kevin anything but happy and laughing on the cam. What he did was wrong! The room did not use Kevin just the opposite Kevin used the room and it was very wrong to have done what he did…. he obviously planned this. It is very sad but stop blaming the room!!! sun…
Report abuse
I visit this chatroom every night and was in it at the time of the said incident. I thought it was just a normal everyday windup.
Sorry to here of this mans death, but just because he did it in this chatroom does no mean that all chatrooms are bad.
Tamrabam
Report abuse
I know of the insult chat rooms on Paltalk.com. The problem is is they are full of HACKERS ! Computer nerds converted into bullys from their computer chair who can find out your personal information i.e. your name and address and harass you as a hobby of theirs. User ”Sir Yank Abuser” in particular the administrator of the room as the horror unfolded ! A real low life character who spends his life in the rooms in question and is OBSESSED with intimidating other users by means of reading out loud your personal information and making hints that he has hacked into your system. There are many friendly, fun & educational chat rooms on Paltalk.com but are often spoiled by foul mouth deranged users who are based in the insult rooms. STAY AWAY from any silly insult room on Paltalk and members who frequent them. The kind of room where they encourage a depressed man to commit suicide for their viewing pleasure.
Report abuse
I have been a member of paltalk for 7 years. NEVER have I seen anything like this happen before. It is sick and uncalled for behavor on the part of the people egging this man on. I believe these people should be charged in some way. Insulting another human is one thing, but to convince a person to take their own life when that person is depressed and contemplating suicide is horrific. You can’t blame the insult room or paltalk for what happened. They had no control at the time. But you can blame the few idiots that didn’t take this man seriously and contributed to his death. Where does one draw the line??? Death of a human being should never be looked upon as a joke. No one knows what is really going on in someones head. You had NO RIGHT to encourage this man to kill himself jokingly or seriously. For those of you heartless sob’s that did, I hope this haunts you for the rest of your sorry lives. May Kevin now rest in peace and my sympathy to his family and friends.
Report abuse
when i found out about kev taking his own life on cam i couldnt beleive it i tried to go into kels room on paltalk and pay my respects somehow,but found myself being bounced out continuously and in the end gave up,i have used this room for just over 3 years now but because it is full of sick small minded people i shall never return,i hope that the people concerned in eggin kev on to do such a thing will pay in some way i hope you all feel happy with yourselfs but mine and partners thoughts are with his family and TRUE friends at this time.R.I.P KEV
Report abuse