Charges have been dropped against two teenage girls whom a sheriff had accused of bullying a Florida classmate who later committed suicide, the girls’ attorneys said.
Katelyn Roman and Guadalupe Shaw were both arrested on charges of aggravated stalking after 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick killed herself.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said then that the two were primarily responsible for bullying Rebecca Sedwick, a 12-year-old who jumped to her death at an abandoned concrete plant in September.
Attorney Jose Baez held a news conference to announce that the charge had been dropped against his 12-year-old client, Katelyn Roman. Ronald Toward, the attorney for Guadalupe Shaw, 13, told The Associated Press in an email evening that The State Attorney’s Office in Polk County charge also had dropped the charge against his client.
Baez demanded an apology from Judd for arresting the 12-year-old, whom he described as a “troubled young girl” who had been bullied herself.
The lawyer said it was “reckless” for Judd to have brought a juvenile count of third-degree felony aggravated stalking against the girl, and to name her and show her mug shot at a news conference last month announcing the arrests.
“I found zero evidence having to do with my client that would rise to the level of a criminal act,” Baez told reporters.
At a news conference — just minutes after Baez’s news conference had ended — Judd said he didn’t regret anything he did. He said that he is happy with the outcome and that the girls will receive “the services they need.”
“Our goal is that these kids never bully anyone again, never torment anyone again,” Judd said.
Now we learned that Katelyn Roman now 22 committed suicide on July 18, 2023.
He took her life the day. He arrested her and targeted her for the whole world. On a lie. she hadn’t spoke to Rebecca. Sedwick, in over 7 months, not one word in any way shape or form. He arrested her for a schoolyard fight. He didn’t tell anyone about. he took her life that day, but it took her 10 years to die, he murdered her. He used her he had his bullying suicide. He needed a couple of bullies and he ruined her life. He took her life. He will pay for it if it kills me. Caitlyn will have her redemption.
It is concerning that a young adult ,at 22 ,who takes her own life is analyzed by any uncertified sofa surfer to have committed this chouce, based on an event that transpired a decade earlier. With no idea of what transpired in that life as it went through the teens into adulthood. The man you want to point a finger at, works excruciatingly hard to protect the good from the bad. To bring consequence in swift justice whenever possible. You will not be able to appreciate it until you experience a moment that you did not have the umbrella of safety or get the justice he champions. It is not ideal that a young woman was living a life in so much desperation, anger, solitude, addiction, abuse or whatever that her only answer for reprieve was to take her life. That is not a banner for civilized culture. Lets preserve the one we know is a warrior for all who want a better civil enviroment to live in. Try to appreciate what we know is real.
Yes!! You are correct! Word is she actually over dosed. Did she do it on purpose, we will never know, unless she left a note specifically saying why she did it.
You’re an uninformed idiot who has no idea who he is defending. You are terrifying.
You’re the sofa surfer, buddy. Trauma causes problems, addiction, mental health, and even physical disease.
Imagine being called a murderer in front of the whole country by an ego driven sheriff who couldn’t care about truth.
Those charges were dropped in both cases. Judd was on the “bully” political word of the day website and wrapped the case up. Those children should have been able to sue Grady Judd. Maybe this poor dead girl could have paid for the rehabilitation she needed, instead of those “services they need.” Those, no doubt, amounted to Zip..
When people are on drugs, they aren’t in their right state of mind. She was probably sad about her dad passing away and, well, life. , but, Grady didn’t have anything to do with this!
Do u even know what you’re talking about? Grady lied to the world about Rebecca’s death for the publicity and used Katelyn to support that lie.
Check her arrest record. She was a meth head
She had her future destroyed at 12 for something she had nothing to do with. At 12 she was targeted and threatened and harassed because Grady lied about her. She had not had any contact with rebecca in 7 months and rebecca sedwick was murdered . She was hit by a car and was already dead when she came down from the silo. But you are too ignorant to keep explaining this too. I hope you don’t have a record.
She had her future destroyed at 12 for something she had nothing to do with. At 12 she was targeted and threatened and harassed because Grady lied about her. She had not had any contact with rebecca in 7 months and rebecca sedwick was murdered . She was hit by a car and was already dead when she came down from the silo. But you are too ignorant to keep explaining this too. I hope you don’t have a record. What’s your name franklin
How are you gonna blame a man for someone taking their own life. that’s just ridiculous in itself. She took her own life because of something else. It’s not his fault. Quit blaming a man He didn’t hang her he didn’t do one that took her own life No one knows what was in her head that made her doing it. But you wanna put a blame on a guy that runs this community?
And blame him for her death. That’s selfish It baffles me.
How people just put the blame on everyone else. But the blame on the right person.. Grow up
But your completely okay with a blaming a 12 year year old for the exact same thing? Only difference between these two is one is fully grown man that has sworn to protect people, and the other is a sixth grader….
I swear some of you people should try reading what you write out loud before posting it…
See how idiotic you sound….
S-T-F-U ! This meth head was w known drug user. It’s people like you that facilitate their self-destructive behavior!
Bet she wasn’t at 12. Bet she probably never would have been without Grady Judd’s assistance. Those eighty five drug dealers in Winter Haven that were arrested this year must have been there for years. Can’t buy meth if they ain’t making meth. Polk County was, and may still be, the meth capital of the South. Imagine that.
This woman killed herself Grady judd didn’t give the drug or even the reason.. Finally we get someone who will try to do his job right an everyone attacks him you should thank him for having the guts to do his job and for hold crimals accountable publicy. I personal wish he’d run for president.