Copyright 2011 by Kealan Patrick Burke
 
   What follows is the transcript from a series of screenshots emailed to the Columbus City Police on June 7th, 2011, and subsequently distributed to the media. In the wake of the investigation and as a result of the extensive media coverage, countless falsified copies and revised versions of the document were later posted to various social media platforms via a "meme" which later proved to be a virus.
 
   This is the official authorized version of the document
 

# # #

 
   May 2^nd, 2010
 
   Josh: Hey
   Mandy: hi
   Josh: Thanks for accepting my request
   Mandy: np. Why did you add me?
   Josh: thought we had a lot in common
   Mandy: cool
   Josh: plus, you're hot, lol!
   Mandy: thx
   Josh: so how r you?
   Mandy: good. Gotta go.
   Josh: ok
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 3^rd, 2010
 
   Josh: Hi Mandy
   Mandy: hey
   Josh: What's going on?
   Mandy: nt much. u?
   Josh: cooking
   Mandy: that's cool
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 4^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Hey.
   Mandy: Hey.
   Josh: What are you up to?
   Mandy: Txtng my friend
   Josh: Cool. How is she?
   Mandy: Not so good. Her online 'boyfriend' just dumped her…lol.
   Josh: that sucks.
   Mandy: Yeah. I better go.
   Josh: Oh, ok. Sorry I bothered you.
   Mandy: You didn't. ttyl.
   Josh: Ok.
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 5^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Hey
   Mandy: Hey.
   Josh: How are you?
   Mandy: Ok. u?
   Josh: bored
   Mandy: sorry to hear that.
   Josh: I like your new profile pic.
   Mandy: thx!
   Josh: you should be a model
   Mandy: lol. Yeah, right.
   Josh: I'm serious. You look a bit like Celine Dion, only hotter…!
   Mandy: Ugh, Celine Dion is gross, lol.
   Josh: lol, sorry! Well you're not gross.
   Mandy: thx
   Josh: so do you have a boyfriend?
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 7^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Hey
   Mandy: Hi. Jeez, do you ever sleep?
   Josh: what do you mean?
   Mandy: you're always on here.
   Josh: not always. But a lot, I guess. Nothing better to do, lol.
   Josh: what are you up to?
   Mandy: not much. Just responding to email
   Josh: sweet.
   Josh: do you get much email?
   Mandy: lol
   Josh: what?
   Mandy: nothing. Just an odd question
   Josh: oh, lol. Sorry. Just really bored. Not many people to talk to on here
   Mandy: aww
   Josh: I don't have many friends
   Mandy: on FB?
   Josh: anywhere
   Mandy: that's sad. Sorry:-(
   Josh: s'okay. Where I live it's hard to be popular
   Mandy: where do you live?
   Josh: did you look at my profile?
   Mandy: no, sorry. I will now.
   Josh: cool
   Mandy: You're in Urbana?
   Josh: yep
   Mandy: cool. I used to live there a few years ago
   Josh: I know
   Mandy: ummm…how do u know, lol?
   Josh: says you went to school there on your profile, silly, lol.
   Mandy: lol. Blonde moment. Sorry.
   Josh: yeah, but you're not blonde:-)
   Mandy: I am actually;-)
   Josh: in your picture you are, but you're originally a brunette, right?
   Mandy: how do you know that?
   Josh is offline
 
   May 10^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: Hi!
   Josh: Hey
   Mandy: Quick question…
   Josh: sure
   Mandy: when I talked to you before, you said I wasn't a real blonde
   Josh: yes. Sorry about that. Didn't mean to upset you
   Mandy: Nah, it's cool. Just wondering how you knew that?
   Josh: so it's true?
   Mandy: Yeah, but I've been a blonde for a long time
   Josh: why?
   Mandy:???
   Mandy: Why what?
   Josh: why are you blonde?
   Mandy: Uh…I dunno. I just prefer it. I like how it looks, I guess.
   Josh: makes sense
   Mandy: So, how did you know? Is it obvious or something, lol!
   Josh: Nah, you just look like you used to be a brunette
   Mandy: Oh. In a bad way?
   Josh: No
   Mandy: Ok, phew, lol. So whatchoo doing?
   Josh: Not much. Bad day
   Mandy: what happened?
   Josh is offline
 
   May 11^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Hi Mandy
   Mandy: Hey
   Josh: Sorry about yesterday
   Mandy: S'ok.
   Josh: I've been going through some stuff. Makes me cranky, lol.
   Mandy: no probs. Happens to me all the time. Everything ok?
   Josh: I like your new profile pic
   Mandy: awesome, thanks so much! Do you like it better than the Celine Dion one, lol!
   Josh: Yes. Looks like you didn't crop it enough though on the right side.
   Mandy: I was kind of in a hurry. Does it look bad?
   Josh: No, but you can see your boyfriend's arm in it.
   Mandy: Yeah, I like how I look in that picture so I wanted to put it up.
   Mandy: If I cropped it anymore tho, I'd have had to cut myself in half, lol.
   Josh: So who's the guy?
   Mandy: An ex. A jerk.
   Josh: why'd u break up?
   Mandy: He cheated on me.
   Josh: Ouch
   Mandy: Yeah.
   Josh: He'll get what's coming to him tho. Everybody does
   Mandy: I guess. So what kind of music do you like?
   Josh: It's on my profile
   Mandy: K, will check it out
   Josh: K
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 13^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: Hi
   Josh: Sup?
   Mandy: nothing. Just saw that you were on.
   Mandy: you still there?
   Josh: yes
   Mandy: you're not very chatty tonight, lol.
   Josh: bad day
   Mandy: me too
   Josh: seems to be going around
   Mandy: yeah. My friend might be pregnant
   Josh: that's too bad
   Mandy: yeah, she asked me for advice and I didn't know what to tell her
   Josh: how old is she?
   Mandy: 17. Same as me
   Josh: she should probably get rid of it
   Mandy: she doesn't want to
   Josh: then it's on her
   Mandy: that's not nice. She's really freaked out
   Josh: she should be. Maybe in the future she'll keep her legs closed
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 14^th, 2010
 
   Josh: hi
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 15^th, 2010
 
   Josh: hey
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 16^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Did you get my email?
   Mandy: Yes. Thanks
   Josh: I meant what I said
   Mandy: I know, thank you
   Josh: I am sorry
   Mandy: I believe you
   Josh: Was having another shitty day. Shouldn't have said what I said.
   Mandy: It's ok. I didn't like hearing it, but you're not really wrong.
   Josh: what do you mean?
   Mandy: She sleeps around
   Josh: Ah. Not good
   Mandy: lol, yeah right. You're a guy. I'll bet you do it too.
   Mandy: It's okay when guys do it though. If we do it, we're sluts
   Josh: I don't do that. Do you?
   Mandy: sure you don't. liar:-)
   Josh: I've never had sex
   Mandy: yeah, right
   Josh: I'm serious
   Mandy: really?
   Josh: swear
   Mandy: wow
   Mandy: nothing wrong with that though!
   Mandy: r u religious?
   Josh: not really
   Mandy: i c
   Josh: so do you?
   Mandy: what?
   Josh: sleep around?
   Mandy: that's a bit personal, isn't it?
   Josh: well, I was honest about it
   Mandy: still not sure I believe that
   Josh: why not?
   Mandy: dunno. You're pretty good lookin
   Josh: I'm blushing here
   Mandy: lol.
   Josh: so…
   Josh: do you?
   Mandy: aaargh!
   Josh: what?
   Mandy: my little sister is being a pain in the ass. brb
   Josh: k
   Josh: hello?
   Josh: u there?
   Josh: talk to you soon
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 18^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Hi Mandy
   Mandy: hey there
   Mandy: sorry I had to go the other night.
   Mandy: Ended up watching a movie with my sister and fell asleep on the couch
   Josh: no sweat. What was the movie?
   Mandy: eh, just some Jennifer Garner flick. Fell asleep about 20 mins in, lol
   Josh: I don't know who Jennifer Garner is
   Mandy: wow, you need to get out more, lol
   Josh: probably
   Mandy: so what you up to?
   Josh: looking at your pictures
   Mandy: oh yeah? I'm a hottie! lol, j/k
   Josh: You are
   Mandy: aw thx. ur sweet
   Josh: if I was closer, I'd totally take you out
   Mandy: yeah?
   Josh: yeah
   Mandy: my sister says you're cute
   Josh: cool
   Mandy: says you look a bit like Toby Maguire
   Josh: I don't know who that is either
   Mandy: Jeez, do you ever watch movies? He was in Spider-Man
   Josh: I prefer to read
   Mandy: Google Toby Maguire. I'll wait, lol
   Josh: ok
   Mandy: well?
   Mandy: hello?
   Josh: I don't look anything like him
   Mandy: well, my sis thinks you do
   Josh: tell her I said thanks
   Mandy: she says you're welcome. She asks if you have a girlfriend
   Josh: tell her to ask me herself
   Mandy: she is! This is her typing
   Josh: no, it isn't
   Mandy: now it is! HI! This is Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   Josh: hi Sarah.
   Mandy: HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
   Josh: Are you retarded?
   Mandy: ur being a dick again
   Mandy: what's ur problem? That was my sister talking to you
   Josh: Sure
   Mandy:???
   Mandy: have a good night.
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 20^th, 2010
 
   Josh: you there, Mandy?
   Mandy: what do u want?
   Josh: to apologize
   Mandy: you could save yourself a lot of apologies by not being an asshole in the first place
   Josh: I didn't mean to be
   Mandy: then why did you?
   Josh: I get angry a lot
   Mandy: at me? Why?
   Josh: at everything. I don't like where I am or what I am and it gets to me. Makes me crazy
   Mandy: what are you?
   Josh: angry and miserable
   Mandy: maybe you should talk to somebody
   Josh: I am. You.
   Mandy: maybe somebody who could help u with your issues
   Josh: you could help me with them
   Mandy: not sure I'm qualified
   Josh: do you have issues?
   Mandy: sure. Everybody does.
   Josh: what are yours?
   Mandy: I hate my nose, lol
   Josh: you have a lovely nose.
   Josh: for an anteater
   Josh: that was a joke
   Mandy: better be. You're on strike two, buddy
   Josh: lol
   Josh: seriously though, you're beautiful. I've always thought so
   Mandy: always? You added me about three weeks ago, lol.
   Josh: I knew you before I added you.
   Mandy: explain pls
   Josh: I remember you from middle school back in Urbana
   Mandy: seriously?
   Josh: yeah, we were in the same grade for a year
   Mandy: wow
   Mandy: that's cool!
   Josh: you don't remember me, do you?
   Mandy: I think so
   Josh: no you don't. lol. That's okay though. not many people do.
   Josh: my family only moved there in time for me to take the last grade.
   Mandy: wow
   Josh: yeah
   Josh: I think I was in love with you
   Mandy: awww, that's so sweet. Why didn't you ever say anything?
   Josh: I did
   Mandy: what did you say? I don't remember?
   Josh: better if we don't go there
   Mandy: uh-oh…was I mean?
   Josh: a little bit, lol. It's okay though.
   Josh: I was awkward as hell in those days. Had a stammer. Probably spat all over you
   Mandy: lol. That's cute
   Mandy: I'm sorry if I did anything mean. I was a bit spoiled in those days
   Josh: no worries
   Mandy: so I've gotta get ready
   Josh: where u going?
   Mandy: staying over at Sue's. not looking forward to it. She's still a mess
   Josh: cool. I'll be here for a while, so if you can get online later, I'll chat at ya then.
   Mandy: okee dokee. l8r!
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 20^th, 2010
 
   Josh: hi
   Mandy: SUP
   Josh: how is the sleepover going?
   Mandy: UD
   Mandy: GUD
   Josh: what are you all up to?
   Mandy: IGNOREING U
   Josh:?
   Josh: why?
   Mandy: BC UR A FAGET SHIT 4 BRANES
   Josh: uh…what?
   Mandy: MANDY TOLE ME WAT U SD ABT ME
   Josh: is this Sue?
   Mandy: WHO D FUCK U THNK U R? U DNT EVN NO ME!!
   Josh: Yes I do
   Mandy: HOW?
   Josh: I know you from school
   Mandy: U DNT GO 2 MY SKOOL DICKHEAD
   Josh: And you don't go enough, apparently.
   Mandy: MY FREIDNS WLL FUCK U UP U MESS W THIS!!!.
   Mandy: DNT U DARE TLK SHIT ABT ME!!!
   Mandy: U DONT ME OR WAT IM GIONG THRU.
   Josh: You're right. I got you confused.
   Josh: I only know you from your picture on Mandy's FB.
   Josh: You're the one who looks like a diseased crack whore, right?
   Mandy: FUCK URSELF PEACE OF SHIT
   Josh: maybe if you'd done that, you wouldn't be in the trouble you're in now.
   Mandy: CANDY ASS BITCH. ILL BRAKE UR FACE
   Josh: Where's Mandy? Can you get her for me? At least she speaks English.
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 21^st, 2010
 
   Mandy: nice job dude
   Josh: what?
   Mandy: Sue is pissed at u. big time.
   Josh: So what? I don't even know her. Or as she would say: U DNT EVN NO ME!!!!!
   Mandy: LOL
   Mandy: yeah, well I know her
   Josh: my condolences
   Mandy: she said you were on her friend list
   Josh: For a little while, until I started reading her status messages.
   Josh: They made me a little queasy. The ones I could understand anyway.
   Josh: So I unfriended her.
   Mandy: ic
   Josh: you probably shouldn't have told her what I said about her
   Mandy: I didn't tell her your name. just said a guy on FB I was talking to.
   Josh: is that what I am?
   Mandy: what?
   Josh: a guy on FB you're talking to?
   Mandy: what else would u be?
   Josh: dunno. Thought we were friends
   Mandy: we are, kinda. But I think to be friends you have to have met in real life
   Josh: we have met in person, remember?
   Mandy: years ago
   Josh: so those 1,355 people on your FB are all people you've met in real life?
   Mandy: you're giving me a headache. I'm not in the mood for this.
   Josh: I could have told Sue what you said about her
   Mandy: what did I say?
   Josh: You agreed with me about her being a slut
   Mandy: No I didn't
   Josh: I could email a screenshot to her. How mad would she be then?
   Mandy: don't
   Josh: why not?
   Mandy: fine. Do whatever you want.
   Mandy: if you do, I'm unfriending you bc a friend wouldn't do something like that
   Josh: I'm kidding
   Mandy: u better be. I have enough trouble
   Josh: so do you want to meet?
   Mandy: I'm tired. Need to sleep. night
   Josh: just answer me before you go.
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 22^nd, 2010
 
   Mandy: u there?
   Josh: aren't I always lol?
   Mandy: Sue's talking shit about u all over FB.
   Josh: good for her. Anything to deflect people's attention from her own mistakes
   Mandy: yeah. Don't know why she bothers. It's not like u can see it
   Josh: I can see it
   Mandy: how? She said she blocked u
   Josh: she didn't
   Mandy: weird. Probably wanted u to see it then
   Josh: good for her
   Mandy: so how u been?
   Josh: down
   Mandy: why?
   Josh: hard to explain
   Mandy: gotcha. Been a rough week here too.
   Josh: why?
   Mandy: my sister's getting sick.
   Mandy: Mom and dad thought it was the summer flu or something
   Mandy: but it keeps getting worse. She can hardly go ten minutes without throwing up
   Mandy: and now my throat is all scratchy too. I'm freakin out.
   Mandy: Hoping it's just food poisoning or something.
   Mandy: Last thing I need is to be sick for the prom
   Josh: who's taking you to the prom?
   Mandy: jeez, you're nosy, lol. It's nobody u know
   Josh: then what difference does it make if you tell me?
   Mandy: well, I wouldn't want to make u jealous. After all, u said you used to love me
   Josh: I still do
   Josh: u there?
   Josh: Mandy
   Mandy: yeah. Just not sure what to say to that.
   Josh: say you want me to take you to the prom
   Mandy: LOL! You're not even in my school.
   Josh: so what?
   Mandy: I wish I could. Really
   Josh: then wish and it'll happen
   Mandy: I've already agreed to go with someone else. Sorry:-(
   Josh: no you're not
   Mandy: I totally am!
   Josh: You're relieved, and maybe a little creeped out right now
   Mandy: why creeped out?
   Josh: because I creep people out…lol
   Mandy: It was sweet of you to ask. Thanks:-)
   Mandy: Josh?
   Josh: Sure hope you don't get sick.
   Josh is offline
 
   May 27^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: I think u jinxed me
   Josh: how?
   Mandy: I'm sick
   Josh: sorry to hear that
   Mandy: And just had a big screaming match with my parents.
   Josh: that sucks
   Mandy: ugh, my head fills like it's full of sawdust
   Mandy: *feels*
   Mandy: even my spelling is sick, lol
   Josh: sorry you're sick. you still going to the prom tomorrow night?
   Mandy: yeah. I mean, I have to, but it's gonna suck
   Josh: maybe you'll be better by then
   Mandy: fingers crossed! What're u up to?
   Josh: nothing much. Talking to you, lol
   Mandy: lol
   Mandy: brb
   Josh: ok
   Josh: you there?
   Mandy: sorry, had to go throw up
   Josh: ugh
   Mandy: lol, sorry. TMI
   Josh: what does that mean?
   Mandy: too much information
   Mandy: I think I need to lie down. Getting dizzy
   Josh: I hope you feel better
   Mandy: me too. This blows
   Josh: I can give you my number if you wanna text me or anything
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 28^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: hey
   Mandy: u there?
   Mandy: guess I missed you. As you probably figured out, I'm not at the prom.
   Mandy: Was hoping you'd be online
   Mandy: My date canceled and Sue's not answering the phone.
   Mandy: Just wanted to bitch for a while and ev
   Mandy: eryone else who didn't go to the prom seems to be offline.
   Mandy: Thought about going anyway, but I feel like death
   Mandy: I'm just going to crawl into bed and stay there.
   Mandy: Who's the girl in ur profile pic, btw?
   Mandy: Looks like she's kissing your webcam, lol. Didn't know u had one.
   Mandy: So much for you being all innocent, lol! Better not let Sue see that.
   Mandy: She'll probably bitch about the girl having the same shirt as she does.
   Mandy: anyway, I guess I'll catch you tomorrow. I'm going to go die for a few hours.
   Mandy: bye
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 29^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: Josh? Are u there?
   Mandy: grrr
   Mandy: email me if you get the chance. Hope you're okay.
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 30^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: hey!
   Josh: hey
   Mandy: you okay?
   Josh: yes
   Mandy: I missed u over the last few days
   Josh: you did?
   Mandy: I mean, everytime I msg'd u, you didn't answer
   Josh: sorry. Was busy. Forgot to log out last time I was on
   Mandy: s'ok. Was just bored and kinda freaked out
   Josh: why?
   Mandy: I missed the prom
   Josh: I saw that. Sorry:-(the guy's a jerk for canceling on you
   Mandy: nah, turns out he was sick too.
   Josh: sounds like a lame excuse to me
   Mandy: Nah, I talked to him on the phone. He's in bad shape.
   Mandy: This stupid virus has everybody in bed.
   Mandy: There's even rumors going around that people are dying from it.
   Mandy: I'm scared.
   Mandy: Sue blames Fatty Kathy's food, lol.
   Josh: Who's that?
   Mandy: the lunch lady at school.
   Josh: oh, lol.
   Josh: don't be scared. You'll be fine. You should probably be in bed too though.
   Mandy: I am in bed. Using my laptop
   Josh: so you have me in bed with you?
   Mandy: lol, perv
   Josh: knew I'd get there eventually!:-)
   Mandy: yeah, yeah. Not cool to hit on someone who's dying.
   Josh: you're not dying
   Mandy: sure feels like it.
   Mandy: Ugh. Just caught myself in the mirror. I look like the chick from The Ring.
   Josh: I'll bet you look gorgeous.
   Mandy: depends on how you feel about corpses, I guess, LOL.
   Josh: I notice Sue hasn't updated her page in a while
   Mandy: Yeah. Don't know what's going on.
   Mandy: she may have decided to go take care of her problem and just didn't tell anybody.
   Mandy: Didn't think she'd skip the prom though.
   Mandy: And I thought for sure she'd tell me what was happening. I'd have gone with her.
   Josh: She was probably pretty stressed and panicky. Probably just forgot.
   Mandy: yeah, true
   Mandy: so who's the girl in the pic?
   Josh: what pic?
   Mandy: you had a new pic up for a while the other night. Saw it before I went to bed.
   Mandy: Some girl. Looks like you got over me real quick, LOL!
   Josh: hmmm…don't know what you're talking about.
   Josh: I haven't changed my picture since the day I set up my account
   Mandy: well, someone did.
   Josh: maybe I got hacked
   Mandy: maybe. The girl kinda looked like Sue.
   Mandy: But I could only see the lower half of her face. Looked like she was blowing u a kiss
   Josh: Can't say I know what you're talking about
   Mandy: wow. Crazy.
   Josh: what would be crazy would be me putting a picture of SUE as my profile image.
   Mandy: yeah, that's true. She'd say you had the hots for her.
   Josh: I have the hots for you, Mandy, not her. She's a pig.
   Mandy: you're an oddball;-)
   Mandy: and a flirt
   Josh: why?
   Mandy: you don't even know me
   Josh: feels like I do. I've wanted you for a long time
   Mandy:…
   Mandy: wow. I don't know what to say
   Josh: Say "Josh, I can no longer resist the urge to throw myself into your arms."
   Josh: "Take me away to a better place where we may be united in passion"
   Josh: "the lies of which would set the very world aflame!"
   Josh: or something like that
   Josh: *likes* instead of *lies*, sorry
   Mandy: LMAO!
   Mandy: you should go into writing romance. You're good at it
   Josh: nah, not my field of interest
   Mandy: what is then?
   Josh: not sure yet. Psychology maybe
   Mandy: you want to be a shrink?
   Josh: they don't like to be called that
   Mandy: sorry:-(
   Josh: I'm totally kidding
   Mandy::-)
   Josh: I'm not sure yet what I want to do.
   Josh: I know I love to study people, love finding out what makes them tick
   Josh: love to watch them.
   Mandy: what got you interested in that?
   Josh: my dad was one
   Mandy: was?
   Josh: he died six weeks ago
   Mandy: WHAT???
   Mandy: OMFG…I'm so sorry…
   Mandy: I was talking to you about, like, two weeks after that.
   Mandy: OMG, why didn't you TELL me????
   Mandy: Jesus…I feel like such a horrible person…
   Josh: Don't.
   Mandy: why didn't you say anything?????:-(
   Josh: Why would I? So you could feel bad about it too?
   Mandy: I could have done SOMETHING
   Josh: Like what? Would it have made you change your mind about meeting me?
   Josh: dating me?
   Josh: going to the prom with me?
   Mandy: I don't know.
   Josh: Yes you do, and it's okay.
   Josh: u there?
   Mandy: yeah. I just don't know what to say, lol.
   Josh: It's okay. Really. I'm dealing with it in my own way.
   Mandy: how is your Mom holding up? Is she okay?
   Josh: she died when I was nine. Cancer.
   Mandy: oh god…I'm crying here. I'm so sorry.
   Josh: it's okay. Really it is. I'm doing just fine. And you're not really crying
   Mandy: No, but I'm really sad for you
   Josh: I'm okay, really. I'm a strong person
   Mandy: still sucks though.
   Josh: yeah, it does, but that's life
   Josh: So…
   Josh: now will you go out with me?
   Mandy: Josh…
   Josh: I'm kidding;-)
   Mandy: so who do you live with now?
   Josh: No one
   Mandy: what? How is that possible?
   Josh: It's only temporary. I'll be in a better place soon.
   Mandy: That sounds…
   Josh: what?
   Mandy: gloomy
   Josh: lol, I don't mean it like that. I mean, better than this crappy house
   Mandy: Glad to hear that.
   Mandy: hate to do this, but can you give me a half hour?
   Josh: sure. U ok?
   Mandy: I'm gonna go try to eat something and hope I can keep it down. Will you be on later?
   Josh: most likely
   Mandy: okay. c u then
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 30^th, 2010
 
   Mandy: back
   Mandy: did I miss u again?
   Mandy: going to bed. Talk soon…and sorry to hear about what you've been through.
   Mandy: sorry I wasn't more sympatethic(sp?). I didn't know, though. so…my bad L
   Mandy: night
   Mandy is offline
 
   May 31^st, 2010
 
   Mandy: hey
   Josh: hey beautiful
   Mandy: ugh…if you saw me now…
   Josh: if I saw you now, I'd try to kiss u better. Would u stop me?
   Mandy: prolly not
   Josh: really???!!!! why?
   Mandy: so sick. Wouldn't have the enrgy…
   Josh: you're not getting any better?
   Mandy: worse
   Josh: that's too bad
   Mandy: yeah. Sue's in hospital
   Josh: about the pregnancy?
   Mandy: no
   Josh:?
   Mandy: she went to sleep and her mother couldn't wake her up. They say she's in a coma.
   Josh: wow, that's crazy
   Mandy: yeah. I should feel sadder than I do, but I can barely breathe. Feels like I have a fvre
   Mandy: fevere
   Mandy: fever
   Mandy: Don't know what's going on. Nobody seems to know. Lots of people getting sick
   Josh: I know what's going on
   Mandy: yeah?
   Josh: Yeah
   Mandy: that's cuz you're a genius
   Josh: can I come over?
   Mandy: silly
   Josh: I can make u better
   Josh: if u let me
   Mandy: everybody is sick
   Josh: yes they are
   Mandy: I don't want to die
   Josh: you won't
   Mandy: feels like I am
   Mandy: are u sick?
   Josh: I've always been sick, Mandy
   Mandy: what u mean?
   Josh: you need to let me come over
   Mandy: need to sleep
   Josh: do you love me?
   Mandy: nite
   Mandy is offline
 
   June 2^nd, 2010
 
   Josh: hello gorgeous
   Mandy is offline
 
   June 4^th, 2010
 
   Josh: Hey
   Mandy: so sad
   Mandy: sue died
   Josh: I know. Saw her Dad's post on her page. Are you okay?
   Mandy: no
   Mandy is offline
 
   June 5^th, 2010
 
   Josh: hey
   Mandy: h
   Josh: how are you?
   Mandy: nt god
   Josh: not good?
   Mandy: s
   Mandy: so
   Mandy: sick
   Josh: awww…why are you on FB?
   Mandy: dunno. Nobdy esle 2 talk 2
   Josh: I should come over
   Mandy: y?
   Josh: so I can make you feel better
   Mandy: can't
   Josh: sure I can
   Mandy: mean, cant come ovr
   Josh: why?
   Mandy: dunno
   Mandy is offline
 
   June 6^th, 2010
 
   Josh: do you love me, Mandy?
   Mandy: no
   Josh: why?
   Mandy: jst…
   Josh: why not, Mandy?
   Mandy: dunno. Don't knw u
   Josh: yes you do
   Josh: I want to help you, but you have to let me
   Mandy: my hair falling out
   Josh: Can I be honest with you?
   Mandy: ys
   Josh: I've been lying to you
   Mandy:?
   Josh: I've never been to Urbana
   Mandy: k
   Josh: But I have met you
   Mandy: whre?
   Mandy: brb
   Josh: My parents have both been dead for years, for longer than you've been alive, actually
   Josh: The picture you saw on my profile that night was Sue. She sent it to me.
   Josh: Sent me a bunch. Usually of her naked, but I couldn't put that one up
   Josh: you'd have gotten really suspicious…lol
   Mandy:?
   Mandy:?
   Mandy: wat?
   Josh: Do you love me, Mandy?
   Mandy: stop
   Mandy: plz
   Mandy: hurts
   Josh: I was flirting over and back with her a long time before I started chatting with you.
   Josh: She looked slutty every day I saw her, with those tight sweaters and skirts
   Josh: so I chose her first. But she's thick as a tree stump and an ignorant little bitch
   Josh: so I left her hanging in the wind.
   Josh: So you know the "online boyfriend" who dumped her? That was me.
   Mandy: wtf?
   Josh: Only she knew me as Donny.
   Mandy: I hve 2 go. Gng 2 b sick
   Mandy is offline
 
   June 7^th, 2011
 
   Josh: hi!
   Mandy: leve me alone Josh
   Josh: My name isn't Josh
   Josh: I'm going to tell you my real name, because I really do love you
   Josh: But first you have to tell me you love me too.
   Josh: Mandy?
   Josh: Answer me.
   Josh: I know you're there. Just tell me you love me.
   Josh: Just once, and I promise I'll leave you alone.
   Josh: And I swear on my life that I'll make your pain go away.
   Josh: Mandy?
   Josh: you have five seconds before I sign off. After that, you'll never know
   Mandy: knw wat?
   Josh: who killed you and your friends
   Mandy: plz. plz stop. My skin…I'm brning. I'm so sick
   Josh: do you love me?
   Josh: Mandy?
   Josh: Mandy? Do you love me?
   Josh: Say you love me
   Mandy: I lv u
   Josh: that's my beautiful girl. I love you too. Do you know that?
   Mandy: ys.
   Mandy: I dunno
   Mandy: Y r u doin this?
   Josh: do you feel it past the pain? Do you feel it deep inside your heart where it matters most?
   Mandy: stop
   Josh: okay, my love.
   Josh: My name is Kathleen Myer.
   Josh: But you probably know me better as Fatty Kathy.
   Mandy: no r not
   Josh: Yes. I am. And the police will probably be here soon, so try not to interrupt me.
   Mandy: this is cruel stop pretndng
   Josh: I promise you, I'm not
   Mandy: o god
   Mandy: plz
   Mandy: stop
   Josh: and what's killing you is thallium nitrate,
   Josh: introduced into your system via my homemade chicken soup.
   Josh: Do you remember the soup, Mandy? Sue even had the gall to complain to me about it.
   Mandy: why? o god y r u doinng this?
   Josh: because they don't deserve to be beautiful.
   Josh: They've never worked a day in their lives and they never will.
   Josh: Everything they want will just fall into their laps.
   Josh: Nobody ever gave me a goddamn THING, Mandy.
   Josh: I had to WORK, to BEG, and sometimes worse, for anything I got.
   Josh: And what do I have NOW? Nothing. Scars, moles, diabetes
   Josh: And ugliness your friends exploit for laughs.
   Josh: they were rotten on the inside, baby girl.
   Josh: But I never saw YOU laugh at me, and join in their cruelty.
   Josh: Knew you were beautiful and different. Knew you had to be mine. I wanted you.
   Josh: Wanted to BE you.
   Mandy: my parents r cllng the police
   Mandy: so if ths a joke stop now
   Josh: it's too late for that. Remember what I wrote?
   Josh: You laughed and said I should be a romance writer?
   Josh: "Take me away to a better place where we may be united in passion
   Josh: the likes of which would set the very world aflame!"
   Josh: Remember? Well, I do write romance stories. I have, for years.
   Josh: Sitting here in this rotten little house with my clothes still stinking of grease
   Josh: writing down my dreams for nobody but me to read.
   Josh: Well this one isn't a dream. This is the REAL romance. You and me, my precious little girl.
   Josh: We're going to be together very soon. I'm the angel that's taking you away from all of this.
   Josh: Just us. Forever
   Josh: I did this for both of us, to set us free and bring us to a place
   Josh: where ugliness won't matter because our souls will be one and the same.
   Josh: and we'll both be beautiful
   Mandy is offline.
 
   # # #
 
   Shortly after the last exchange between Mandy Ruminek and "Josh", Mandy was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her sister later made a full recovery. In all, thirty-one students suffered thallium poisoning at the hands of cafeteria worker Kathleen "Fatty Kathy" Myer. Of those, seven died.
   Investigators later confirmed that Kathleen Myer had been the author of the instant messages to Mandy Ruminek and Sue Patterson. Myer, 56, was described as morose and irritable, and had a history of mental problems for which she was still receiving treatment. Two hours after Mandy Ruminek was admitted to the emergency unit, local authorities received, via email, screenshots of the conversations she had had with Myers. They were accompanied by a message:
 
   Come find my remains.
   I don't envy you your search for answers.
   Sometimes there aren't any.
 
   I'm with her now, and we are at peace
 
   Kathleen Angelica Myer
 
   Myer was later found dead at her keyboard. She had suffered a heart attack as a result of a large dose of thallium. In the rundown house on North High Street, in which she'd lived alone, investigators recovered a plastic tub in which traces of thallium nitrate were detected, and over a hundred handbound manuscripts, all of which contained Myer's handwritten romance novels.
 
   There was no suicide note.
 
   Among the scant few pictures on the walls of Myer's home was one of a teenage boy, later identified by a neighbor as Myer's brother, who died in the car accident that claimed their parents in 1969.
 
   The boy's name was Josh.
 
   At the time of this printing, and despite ongoing protests by the parents of the victims, eleven of Kathleen Myer's novels are scheduled for posthumous publication.
 
   Two of them have been optioned for film.

 
   Born and raised in Dungarvan, Ireland, Kealan Patrick Burke is an award-winning author described as "a newcomer worth watching" (Publishers Weekly) and "one of the most original authors in contemporary horror" (Booklist).
   Some of his works include the novels KIN, MASTER OF THE MOORS, CURRENCY OF SOULS and THE HIDES, the novellas THE TURTLE BOY (Bram Stoker Award Winner, 2004), VESSELS, MIDLISTERS, and JACK & JILL, and the collections RAVENOUS GHOSTS, THEATER MACABRE, and THE NUMBER 121 TO PENNSYLVANIA & OTHERS (Bram Stoker Award-Nominee, 2009).

 

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