Mitchell Bowie from Redcar kills himself after being ‘catfished’ by a Facebook girlfriend

Mitchell Bowie (pictured) was discovered useless on July 31 at his household's house in Redcar

A 'pretend' Fb girlfriend advised a trusting teenager to kill himself, his grieving family members advised an inquest.

Mitchell Bowie, 18, was discovered useless on July 31 at his household's house in Redcar by his devastated brother.

His household say they consider his Fb 'girlfriend' was an individual utilizing a pretend profile - an internet phenomenon often called a 'catfishing'.

They added that she continuously made excuses to not meet Mr Bowie and despatched threatening messages claiming she 'knew individuals' in Manchester who had been 'going to stab him'.

The threats escalated till the 'girlfriend' allegedly advised she was going to burn down his household's house. 

Teesside coroner Claire Bailey, requested the household: 'Do you suppose he was scared for his life?' 

'Sure I do,' stated Mr Bowie's mom, Lisa. 

An inquest was advised Mr Bowie had began 'seeing' a woman from Liverpool who he had met on Fb earlier this 12 months.

However Mr Bowie's household advised the coroner they did not consider the 2 ever met. 

later began speaking to a different lady on Fb who claimed to be his girlfriend's cousin. 

His household consider they had been each the identical individual, however this has not been confirmed by Cleveland Police. 

Officers interviewed the 'cousin' however determined to not 'press too arduous for info' as a result of no acceptable grownup was current, the court docket heard.

Mr Bowie's sister Sinead stated: '(The girlfriend) was stalking Mitchell and had actually achieved his head in. (She) would inform him to kill himself.'

In a press release, Mr Bowie's brother Jay stated: 'She at all times made excuses to not meet him. She additionally rang the home telephone continuously. 

'When he completed together with her, she began torturing him.'

HOW 'CATFISHING' GREW AFTER AN MTV FILM HIGHLIGHTED THE PHENOMENON

'Catfishing' got here to public consideration in 2010 when the documentary, Catfish was launched

A catfish units up a pretend profile on social media, mostly on Fb, below a pretend identify. 

They typically steal pictures from different social media profiles and strike up on-line relationships with unsuspecting individuals. 

The false identities are used to pursue misleading on-line romances.

The phenomenon got here to public consideration in 2010 when the documentary Catfish was launched. 

The movie follows Nev as he builds a romantic relationship with Megan, a younger musician and artist he met via Fb.  

Nev discovers the images 'Megan' makes use of on her Fb profile belong to a different lady and he has been 'catfished'.

The documentary confirmed the lengths catfish will go to to make their on-line world's seem actual. Megan had created dozens of different pretend Fb profiles that she interacted with on-line.   

The movie spawned an MTV sequence of the identical identify, the place Nev and his staff helped different victims of Catfishing meet the individuals that they had fashioned on-line relationships with.

The inquest, at Teesside Coroner's Courtroom, heard that later within the 12 months, started speaking to a different woman who - based on her Fb profile - was the cousin of his girlfriend.

On the night time earlier than he was discovered useless, Mr Bowie despatched the 'cousin' an image message, apparently depicting him making ready to kill himself.

The 'cousin' forwarded the image to members of Mr Bowie's household. The next morning he was discovered useless.

Ms Bailey stated: 'It will recommend that she did not take his menace severely as a result of she despatched it to relations relatively than the police.'

Mr Bowie's sister, Sinead, stated: 'Police have by no means taken an in depth examination of who she is or what she is.

'She will not say the place she comes from or who she is. I consider the cousin is (the Fb girlfriend).

'These women are usually not who they are saying they're. (The Fb girlfriend) is a pretend individual. Police have nonetheless not discovered (her).'

Ms Bailey stated that, following Mr Bowie's demise, police went to interview the 'cousin' however determined to not 'press too arduous for info' as a result of no acceptable grownup was current.

The 'cousin' has since refused to supply a press release. Ms Bailey stated: 'Police have confirmed to me that they do not consider there are any suspicious circumstances.

'That's ample for my remit on this court docket.'

Having heard from Mr Bowie's household about his character, Ms Bailey stated she was unable to say past affordable doubt that Mitchell had supposed to kill himself.

She stated: 'I really feel that (the image Mitchell took making ready to kill himself) was an act of bravado.

'It was a present tactic relatively than an intention to kill himself.

'Inadvertently, with out intention, he has killed himself. No matter occurred has occurred by himself.

'No matter occurred, he has died on account of it. I am unable to say he dedicated suicide.'

His household advised an inquest that Mr Bowie (left) had been chatting with a woman on Fb that advised him to kill himself. His household consider the woman's profile was a pretend

After Mr Bowie died, the outpouring of grief from his pals, household and workmates was big.

Inside hours of listening to the information, pals of the favored former Sacred Coronary heart Academy pupil organized a balloon launch in his honour.

A whole bunch arrived on the fields near Redcar Hearth Station, Sacred Coronary heart Church in Redcar, was full of pals and family members for Mr Bowie's funeral. 

A Cleveland Police spokesman stated: 'Police totally investigated the demise and no prison offences had been discovered to have taken place. 

'The demise was not deemed as suspicious and a file was ready for the coroner.' 

For confidential assist name the Samaritans on 116123 or go to a neighborhood Samaritans department, see www.samaritans.org for particulars. 

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