Torrington rape victims targeted by cyber bullies

TORRINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's a case that's gaining national attention. Three Torrington high school teenagers, two of them, football players, are facing sexual assault charges. The alleged 13-year-old victims are being targeted online by cyber bullies and school officials say it's something they can't always stop.

Bullies haven't changed but the dynamic of bullying has through cell phones and social media. Mean messages spread in an instant and the bigger and more frequent the volume, the greater the chance of psychological damage.

The stories the yearbooks don't tell, are the ones students would rather forget. 

"I would question myself, 'What's wrong with me? What did I do,'" said Kelly Dyson.

Dyson endured two years of bullying at school, on the phone, and online.

"It was coming both through text-messages, Facebooking, food getting thrown at me during lunch. Just having that being done to you is damaging. You don't know what to do, you don't know where to turn," said Dyson.

The case against two Torrington High School football players charged with sexual assault, is getting national attention, in part, because the Register-Citizen reported one 13-year-old alleged victim is getting cyber-bullied for coming forward.

"A lot of ways it's the "Wild West." It's the new "Wild West" for parents," said Steve Hernandez.

Steve Hernandez is the Director of Public Policy and Research for the Connecticut Commission on Children. He says it's no longer just about lost lunch money. Bullying has evolved to a new, dangerous level, and adults must be a step ahead.

"The person in the room who should control the behavior, and control the message, is the adult, whether that's school or at home. It's incumbent on the adult to take charge as to what's being accessed by the child," said Hernandez.

"People going through this, who are victims, need to know suffering in silence is never the thing to do," said Dyson.

Kelly is using her experience by speaking to peer and parent groups because knowledge is power. The yearbook should spark a fond trip down memory lane, rather than reliving the pain of someone's repugnant behavior.

"I've become stronger with this, I have a voice, and I can use it. Ultimately, that is the most important thing. Don't let yourself sit there by yourself," said Dyson.

For more information on Connecticut Commission on Children, visit  http://www.cga.ct.gov/coc/bullying.htm