Citing relief that a suspect accused of internet luring was in jail, the mother of tormented Port Coquitlam teen Amanda Todd appeared at an RCMP press conference Thursday in Surrey.
"This is truly a day we have been waiting for," Carol Todd said after RCMP announced they had laid five charges against a 35-year-old man who is in custody in the Netherlands on child pornography-related charges.
An RCMP spokesperson said at the press conference that five charges have been laid against the same individual who was arrested in January and appearedAmsterdam District Court yesterday (Wednesday) charged withoffences in the Netherlands. Policehave not revealed the name of the individual but confirmed it is the same person whose is currently in a Dutch jail awaiting proceedings there.
The charges are one count of extortion, one count of internet luring, one count of criminal harassment, one count of possessing child pornography for the purpose of distribution, and one count of child pornography.
Todd, who was 15 when she died, lived and went to school in the Tri-Cities, and her case gained international attention because of a heart-wrenching video of the pain she experienced with online bullying, and harassment. Her motherhas been a staunch advocate of children who are struggling emotionally and has taken part in campaigns and raised funds to promote awareness of the effects of bullying and online sexual exploitation.
dstraandberg@tricitynews.com
