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Rebecca Rose, the grandmother of a terminally ill child who gained attention after a neighbor harassed her on Facebook last year, told Trenton police on Thursday that she's still being targeted.
“I’m done. This is my life ... this is my dead daughter, my handicapped daughter who can’t even sit outside without (being called) a retard...this is my life,” Rebecca Rose told Trenton Patch on Friday.
Rose, a grandmother of a terminally ill 7-year-old girl, spoke out Friday about what she told police is constant harassment aimed at her and her granddaughter that has been going on for years.
The harassment, she said, is coming from Facebook posts, attributed to a handle that appears to be associated with her former neighbor Jennifer Petkov, 33. Jennifer Petkov made national news last year after she taunted the dying girl on Facebook.
Rose said the most recent incident was Thursday, also via Facebook, and just one day before the anniversary of the girl’s mother’s death.
Both the girl, Kathleen Edward, and her late mother, Laura Edward, were diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. Laura died from the disease on June 17, 2009.
Rose filed the latest complaint with Trenton police Thursday, after she said she received several messages on her Facebook page from a Facebook user claiming to be the Petkovs at about 9:30 p.m.
Rose was “crying and extremely upset,” according to the report, and told police that the constant harassment had been going on for years.
Facebook documents Rose gave to Trenton police showed comments allegedly attributed to the neighbors stating:
“Detroit St. Party, When that kid dies, cause boys and girls it’s to happen.”
“Dead and gone, only a few more hours till party time, I’m going to visit a grave and take a piss.”
Rose told police, who then confirmed, that she has served Personal Protection Orders against Scott and Jennifer Petkov. The Personal Protection Orders stated that there is to be no communication to Rose, according to police.
Police said they tried to obtain a written witness statement from Rose, but while she was writing she stated, “I can’t take it anymore” and ran out of the Trenton Police Department crying.
Police tagged the six Facebook documents they received from Rose as evidence.
Rose told Trenton Patch she wants the harassment to stop for the sake of her dying grandchild. She said she wants her remaining days to be peaceful.
"Doctors say Kathleen might not live another year," Rose said. "She has seizures and is in a wheelchair."
She also wants the harassment to stop because she said she is tired of her life consisting of harassing comments and hateful language toward her and her daughter.
Rose is a neighbor of the Petkovs' in the 200 block of Detroit Street, although a judge forced Jennifer Petkov to move in February after she was sentenced to 18 months probation for an assault and battery charge. Jennifer Petkov was initially charged with felonious driving and reckless driving after allegedly trying to run over a neighbor's friend with her car as she was crossing the street in October 2010.
Jennifer Petkov no longer lives at the house on Detroit Street, but Rose said she has seen her several times since the judge ordered her away from the house.
Jennifer Petkov first made national news after she posted photos of Rose’s daughter and granddaughter on Facebook. The doctored images were of Laura being embraced by the grim reaper and Kathleen in a skull and cross bones.
Rose told Patch she believes Jennifer Petkov started her negative behavior over an unanswered text invitation to a birthday party.
“It’s not a damn neighborhood dispute,” Rose said. "I don’t do anything to these people. Sometimes I might get pissed and say things I probably should not have said, but it’s after they say things to me.”
Rose said she plans to hold a candlelight vigil for her daughter Friday, June 17, on Detroit Street.
Update: When reached Monday afternoon Trenton Police Chief William Lilienthal said the case was under investigation and declined comment.
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