17th youth suicide in year rocks U.K community

updated 11:37 a.m. ET Feb. 20, 2008

LONDON - The body of a teenage girl was found hanging in the woods of a Welsh village, and authorities said it was the 17th young suicide in just over a year near one town in South Wales.

No evidence has been found of a suicide pact or a cult responsible for the string of deaths, police said Tuesday.

“Our review is ongoing but so far there is absolutely no indication of any criminality or of any suicide pact,” Assistant Chief Constable David Morris said.

All the suicides happened in or around Bridgend, nearly 20 miles west of Cardiff, within the past 13 months.

Police identified Jenna Parry, 16, as the latest victim. Her body was found hanging from a tree in the woods by a passer-by walking his dog in the village of Cefn Cribwr, five miles from Bridgend.

Complaints about media coverage
Morris complained about “sensational” media reporting adding to the problems facing the Bridgend area and called for more accurate coverage of the “cluster” of suicides. He singled out for his harshest criticism newspaper reports linking the deaths to some sort of Internet cult.

Police did say that a number of the victims used a social networking Web site that is popular with young Britons.

Morris was joined by the parents of Nathaniel Pritchard, a 15-year-old who took his life last week. They said their son may have been influenced by media reports they believe glamorized earlier suicides, and called for press restraint.

“We feel media coverage could trigger other young people, who are already vulnerable and feeling low, into attempting to take their own lives,” Sharon Pritchard said.

More from msnbc.com World Blog: Anger and hatred on Urumqi streets Local governments face painful budget choices Family turns to Facebook in hunt for missing son World Blog: Ghana gets set for Obama’s visit  No-kill shelter nation? Maybe in 5 years  Irresistible! 9 gadgets we covet

MORE FROM EUROPE

Europe Section Front

Obama: Nations must fight global warming U.K. police won’t probe tabloid spying case French tourists ranked as world’s worst G-8 deplores Iran violence, raps N. Korea Pamplona’s running of bulls leaves 4 hurt Drunken badger disrupts traffic in Germany Scientists create human sperm from stem cells Newsweek: What the pope will discuss with Obama It's official, beloved polar bear Knut's a Berliner Europe Section Front   Add Europe headlines to your news reader: