This time last year a story came out of Trenton that shocked the nation. Cyber-bullying was a newer thing to talk about, but when a 33-year-old woman tormented a terminally ill 7-year-old girl it was taken to a whole new level.

The story came out after Jennifer Petkov posted two photos on her Facebook. One of a dying little girl in a skull and crossbones and one of the girl's deceased mother in the arms of the Grim Reaper.

The cause of Laura Edward's death at age 24 was Huntington's disease, the same disease killing young Kathleen Edwards.

Read about the disease here.

The story went national. The News-Herald covered it. Local television stations covered it. In fact, Petkov told WJBK-TV (Fox 2 News) on camera that she did post the pictures and did it because it hurts Kathleen's grandmother, Rebecca Rose. Petkov, her husband the Rose's family have had issues for years.

The photo of Kathleen posted on Facebok

Neighborhood disputes happen. Naturally some people won't like their neighbors. But to let a 7-year-old girl, who is terminally ill at that, to suffer because of it just seems absurd. I think most of you will agree.

Deal with the issues, don't make them worse. I can almost guarantee Kathleen never did anything to another family. Did her mother? Perhaps. Did her grandmother? It's possible. This little girl was given a death wish because her relatives have an ongoing dispute with neighbors.

The photo of Laura Edward posted on Facebook

Perhaps one of the most disturbing parts of this ordeal is the fact that it hasn't stopped. Here we are, one year after this story was picked up by CNN and the Drudge Report (two national media outlets), and there is still an issue. Things are still posted on Facebook. The families still live across the street from each other.. They still exchange hate messages. The police are still called. There are still court appearances, several at that.

This whole thing started on Myspace in 2008 and merged into Facebook when it became the bigger social media outlet. In fact, one of the parties involved had this conversation with me:

Q: If there wasn't Facebook anymore, would there still be a conflict?
R: Well yes, we would use some other internet connection.
Q: Ok, if there wasn't social media would there still be a conflict?
R: No, probably not

So why let social media run the world? Why let the advancements of Internet affect this little girl?

I get letters from people complaining about where Scott Petkov (Jennifer's husband) works. I get emails from distant relatives telling me "secrets" about those involved. I have residents asking why there is still stuff going on.

Trust me, I don't understand how this could carry on more than anyone else. It's a disturbing story.

Petkov was forced to move out of her home after she was charged with assault and battery on a different neighbor. She admitted that she tried to run a woman over. She was originally sentenced to 18 months probation in February, meaning she couldn't return to her home (or be within five blocks of it) in the north end of Trenton until August 2012.

Last month she was told she could return home because she was following all orders. Rose and her family are still being tormented by someone on Facebook and they swear it's Petkov, but the court said she doesn't have an account to do it from. Petkov has kids of her own. At one point two of her children were sent to live with their father. 

Want to know how things blew up after that court date? It was big on Detroit Street. Things get big there often. On the two-year anniversary of Laura's death, several vulgar messages were sent to Rose on Facebook. They held a vigil and had the police called on them. This was just three months ago.

On another note, Kathleen is having several seizures a day. She goes through bad days then has some good days. She's in a wheelchair, but just last week attended her first Detroit Red Wings game.

I am compiling a story of these family's disputes over the last several years and what it has all come to. It'll be online this weekend and in The News-Herald Oct. 2. I'll keep posting about what's happening and I'll also post about the time I went to Detroit Street and was rampaged by neighbors. I promise, it's an interesting story. 


On that note, I hope you'll come back and read. I also hope you read the article. And please, please share your feedback! 


Catch ya later, Internet World.

"The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom." - Jon Stewart