Speculation surrounds death of Spencerport teen Cameron DeVeronica, 14

The community of Spencerport has come together to mourn the loss of Cameron DeVeronica, who passed away Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 14 years old.

Hundreds of Spencerport High School students and faculty gathered on the school's footbal field in remembrance during a Thursday, Dec. 1 vigil for freshman DeVeronica. The vigil was only for the students and faculty of Spencerport High School, located about eight miles east of the Village of Brockport.

In addition, more than 10,000 people have shown support to friends and family by "liking" a Facebook page set up in remembrance of DeVeronica as of press time Monday, Dec. 5.

Another Facebook page titled "Rest in Peace Cameron Lee DeVeronica 11/29/11 - Stand Up Against Bullies" received almost 3,000 "likes" as of press time.

Just hours after DeVeronica's passing, speculation and rumors spread via the Internet and word of mouth. Friends told local news affiliate WHEC-10 they believe DeVeronica took her own life because she was unable to cope with bullying she faced at school.

"[I heard] people calling her very bad names about things she'd supposedly done, and if people paid attention to that and paid attention to her, it could have never happened," Spencerport sophomore Dillon Lally told WHEC-10.

Hundreds of online comments on the Facebook memorial condemn bullying, adding to the speculation.

Many comments made shortly after her passing condemned one or two persons who apparently left disrespectful comments on her Facebook memorial.

However, most comments simply express shock and sadness that someone so "beautiful" would die so young.

The school and local police have neither confirmed nor denied rumors of bullying.

"We don't have clear or solid evidence indicating that this was a bullying issue," Ogden Police Chief Doug Nordquist said during a news conference held Thursday, Dec. 1.

Ogden police are investigating the circumstances surrounding DeVeronica's passing.

"The investigation is continuing and nothing is being ruled out," Nordquist told The Stylus Monday, Dec. 5. "We have no immediate evidence at this time to show that any criminal activity occurred."

As part of the investigation, police will review social networking pages set up in DeVeronica's honor, Nordquist said.

"We are going through volumes of information on that (social networking websites), looking for threats being made or strong bullying toward the deceased," Nordquist told The Stylus.

Police have ruled it an unattended death, and the cause of death has not been released.

Superintendent Michael Crumb said his thoughts and prayers are with the DeVeronica family, and he believes it is important for the community to come together during this time of mourning.

"I want to again express how grateful I am for the support and outreach from our families, staff, school board, community and neighboring districts during this difficult time," Crumb wrote in a news release on the Spencerport schools website, dated Friday, Dec. 2.

In the same news release, Crumb posted a video in which he addressed issues of bullying and cyber-bullying among Spencerport students.

About 300 protestors gathered outside the Spencerport School District headquarters Monday, Dec. 5 to call for an end to bullying, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.