NEW YORK (LALATE) – The suicide death of Tyler Clementi (case photos below) reveals two alarming trends.  While  Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei are now household names for their unthinkable acts of webcasting a fellow student having relations, the faces of bullies and their identities most often go unnoticed. The bullies themselves often go uncharged.

While Tyler Clementi’s case has garnered the biggest news coverage this week of the many bullying cases, there have been no less than three other state-by-state cases of teens driven to suicide because of bullying. These four cases shows two alarming trends: the growth of bullying and the often absence of help for the victims.

Rutgers Pictures: Tyler Clemente Case
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Clementi was 18. But there was also Billy Lucas who was 15, Asher Brown who was 13, and Seth Walsh who as 13. All four teens took their lives because of bullying this September school year. All four teens were subjected to multiple cases of bullying, whether by computers or by bodies, whether online or in the school halls. All four cases ended in suicide.

The Rutgers story is unique in that bullies bragged about their exploitation of the victim. Twitter postings didn’t hide what Ravi was doing; he invited others to join him.  Ravi tweeted to others, invited others to iChat with him, posted pictures for others to see. In the case of the high schools teens, the bullies ran a faceless operation. And after their victims were dead, the bullies identities remained in question.

And yet, while all four teens were victimized, each felt that the ordeal was something they could not overcome. Asher Brown turned to his parents. He admitted he was gay. His parents contacted the school. Brown got the support at home but not at school. So Brown went home at shot himself. Another teen hung himself in a back yard. Clementi jumped to his death.

Before he took his life, Clementi wrote on Facebook, an account locked private for friends, his last word:  “Sorry.”

There was nothing wrong that Clementi did. Rather, what Ravi and Wei did ended in an “unspeakable tragedy” as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said today. “As the father of a 17-year-old…I can’t imagine what those parents are feeling today, I can’t. You send your son to school to get an education with great hopes and aspirations, and I can’t imagine what those parents are feeling today”.

All four teens went to school this September to learn. Will their bullies ever learn from their acts? Of the four cases LALATE has reported, not one of the bullys has been reported as issuing an apology after their victim’s suicide. As Christie said today “I have to tell you, I don’t know how those two folks are going to sleep at night, knowing that they contributed to driving that young man to that alternative.”

But in many cases, the bullies are unknown. Once the victim

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BELLINGHAM (LALATE) – Dwight Clark remains missing, but the search for Clark, a missing Western Washington University student last seen over the weekend, was aided with the addition of a $12,000 reward today. Bellingham police hope the reward will assist their search that has yet to reveal any clues, but has drawn an entire community out to assist.

Spokesman Mark Young for the Bellingham police is concerned about the lack of clues but has been “amazed” by the volunteer effort to find the missing WWU.

Dwight Clark is a straight-A student. He just arrived in town  roughly a week and half ago. His roommate reported nothing unusual happened to Dwight before he went missing. Clark was a honors student at Auburn High. His car outside his dorm is still in position.

The 6 feet and 2 inches tall, 160 lb missing teen was last seen leaving a party Sunday at 2 am. Clark never made it home, nor to his car. Moreover, his last texts were sent Saturday night. Family and friends confirm Clark would text repeatedly; by Sunday, they feared for the worse. Police spokesman Mark Young said there were several violent attacks in the area over the weekend.

Volunteers are encouraged to call Sgt. Colin Emmert at 360-778-8666. A briefing is set for 10 a.m. Friday at Ellis Street and East Champion Street.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Anita Kustok, mother of reporter Sarah Kustok, has been murdered. Anita Kustok was 58. Anita Kustok is the mother of Comcast SportsNet reporter Sarah Kustok and Northwestern former QB Zak Kustok.

Today local news is confirming that Anita Kustok was found dead in her home, the victim of a single fatal gun shot to the head, on Wednesday morning. Local police confirm that a unidentified family member brought Anita Kustok to a local hospital shortly after the 7 am murder. Kutok was ruled dead on arrival.

By early afternoon yesterday, a crime scene was in place at the  suburban upscale home.

Anita Kustok is being remembered today by Central Elementary School where she taught and was beloved by her students. Anita loved her work at  Central where she taught math and reading to gifted students, grades three to five. The school’s principal Dr. Janice Limperis said in a news statement today that Anita was “a beautiful person with a beautiful heart. If anyone had a problem, she would find a positive way to look at it. We are devastated here. Her students are inconsolable. Its like losing a family member.”

“We are all deeply saddened by this tragic news.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and her family.’” said SportsNet in a news statement issued today. The Chicago Sun Times reports no suspects have been named.

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MEXICO CITY (LALATE) – The Yamille Herrera (photos below) claims told to TV Notas are being disputed by Carlos Salcido. Yamille Herrera is a transvestite (travesti) who claims she drank with soccer stars Carlos Vela and Salcido. Yamille Herrera also claims she had relations with Salcido.

Carlos Salcido disputes the allegations and is ready to sue.

Yamille “Gem” Herrera says Salcido didn’t know that she was a he. Herrera claims Salcido personally invited her to a party after Fulham’s win against Colombia on September 7. Herrera asserts that the two met on Facebook. But after that September 7 date, Herrera says she told Salcido “I’m not a girl.”

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Herrera claims she apologized to Salcido’s wife Martha Fabiola Arena saying “no era hacerle daño a nadie” (my intention was not to hurt anyone). “This must be very hard for his wife. It was never my intention to hurt anyone. I regret it a great deal.”

Herrera makes her revelation this week also to “TV Notas”. She was asked if the two had relations. Her response was “yes”. Herrera told TV Notas “He was very shocked. Imagine! He was very surprised, asking, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’”

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Salcido has called it all lies. “This situation has already passed into the hands of the lawyer. We’ll see what happens.” The soccer star added “If there is a fine to pay, I will accept it. I offer a personal apology, but the papers say we hired 15 [working women] including a transvestite – and that did not happen. We had a few drinks, but that is as far as it went.”

Decio de Maria Serrano, Secretary of the Mexican FA, issued the following statement to news. “We will carry out an evaluation and collect information. Nobody is justifying (what happened), but nor should we make it bigger than it is. We are public personalities and must behave properly because there are people who will evaluate us and make judgments.”

Padre Alberto was the last notable TVNotas scandal that erupted into U.S. news and on LALATE back in May of 2009.

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VENICE (LALATE) – The search for Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis, the missing U.S. balloonists, was widened today in Italy. Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis went missing yesterday morning after entry in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race. Abruzzo and Davis are from Albuquerque and had traveled to compete in the world’s oldest balloon race days ago.

On Saturday, they started from Bristol, England. They were last seen Wednesday monring. Italy search and rescue forces have been joined by military resources; four coast guard ships, a helicopter, miliatry planes, and a long range plane station have been deployed to aid in the search. Italian resources have been sent from as far as the Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily.

Dario Kirincic, head of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Rijeka, Croatia, told news today that the balloonists last had contact in Brindisi around 6:15 am local time Wednesday. Meteorologist Luc Trullemans  was the last to speak with one of them. Trullemans reports thunderstorms at the time; he does not know how high the balloon was at that point. Some suggest altitudes may have been around 9,000 feet

The pair won the Gordon Bennett cup in 2004 from Thionville, France to Vannas, Sweden. Abruzzo is 47, Davis is 65.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson issued a news statement confirming that he has asked for U.S. military search and rescue be sent by U.S. State Department officials promptly. “I’ve been following the search for Richard and Carol all day and I’m optimistic that they will be located soon. I’ve been in contact with the Abruzzo family and have offered any help they need in getting Richard back home to them safely. My thoughts are also with Carol’s family as they await word on their loved one.”

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