Kealan Patrick Burke

Offline

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.

About the Author

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).

Kealan Patrick Burke

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Kealan Patrick Burke