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New details are being revealed about the tragic suicide of an 11-year-old boy in Michigan. 

On Thursday, Tysen Benz'smother Katrina Goss claimed that her son died after falling prey to a 'manipulative' prank hatched by his 13-year-old girlfriend.

'She did a prank that made it look like she killed herself and used other friends and their [social media] accounts to make it look like she killed herself,' Goss told the New York Post. 'So, he believed her and said, "I’m going to kill myself."'

Goss walked in on her son while he was trying to hang himself on March 14. He had been on life support for several weeks, but passed away on Tuesday at a hospital in Ann Arbor. 

The girlfriend is not being identified because she is a minor.  

 

 

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The mother of Tysen Benz, 11 (pictured), said her son killed himself after falling prey to a social media prank  

Goss described her son as an athlete, comedian, friend, brother and all around amazing child.

But she says things started to go wrong when he bought a cellphone from a friend behind her back and started 'secretly dating' the older girl against her wishes. 

 

 

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Mom Katrina Goss said that her son's (pictured) 13-year-old girlfriend staged her death on social media to prank him. The girl has not been identified because she is a minor 

His mother said she never met the girl, who other students called his girlfriend, but that she saw her several times while picking up and dropping off her son at Bothwell Middle School. 

She has no idea why the teen would concoct such a 'controlling, harassing and manipulative' prank against her son. 

While the girl is a minor, Goss says she'd like to see her face charges for what she did to her son.

'I’m quite angry,' Goss said. 'I feel like, yeah, they’re young and all that, but I feel like when you’re 13, you’re completely knowledgeable of your choices and you know right from wrong. You can make your own choices. I do feel like she took advantage of a younger boy to control and manipulate him.

'I don’t feel like it should be taken lightly. She should be held legally responsible for this horrific prank,' she said. 

Capt. Mike Kohler of the Marquette Police Department said that they are still investigating Tysen's death. 

If charges are handed down, it's possible that the girl could be tried as an adult if the accusations are serious enough. 

 

 

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Tysen's mother (above with him as a baby) said she would like to see the girl face charges for what she did 

The major difference between the two systems is that the adult court system seeks to punish offenders while the juvenile system aims to rehabilitate offenders so they can return to society.

Goss has encouraged families to speak out and communicate with their children about the dangers of the internet, texting and social media.

'I urge families to speak out, reach out and communicate with your children about life's precious gift and the dangers of the internet and texting and how telecommunications can have the same effects as speaking face to face,' she said. 

'I want Tysen to be remembered as he was and all the joy he's brought to everyone. Keep his spirit alive by standing strong & fighting against social media bullying.'

For readers seeking support, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or by clicking here.