Ex Warned Of Hopkinton Teen's Mental State Before Death: Records

HOPKINTON, MA — The ex-girlfriend of a Hopkinton teen who was found dead on April 18 warned a school guidance counselor about the 16-year-old's mental health days before her death, according to an attorney representing the ex-girlfriend's family.

A state medical examiner has said Mikayla Miller died by suicide, but activists and her mother have rejected that determination. They say there are too many unanswered questions about Miller's death to reach a conclusion yet.

Miller's death became a focus in recent weeks after the girl's mother, Calvina Strothers, and local activists questioned whether law enforcement was handling the case correctly. That outcry prompted Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan to release new details about the case, including that Miller fought with four teenagers the night before she was found.

Franklin-based attorney Joseph Cataldo on Thursday provide Patch with emails and text messages between Miller's 15-year-old ex and the guidance counselor, and with Miller's aunt.

"Hi i'm really sorry to bother you this late at night but I'm really worried about mikayla [sic]," one text between the ex-girlfriend and Miller's aunt said. "Her mom isn't home and she's been crying all weekend and I don't trust her alone with herself and I'm scared she might hurt herself."

The ex-girlfriend on April 12 emailed a Hopkinton High School guidance counselor with a similar plea for help. The guidance counselor responded in an email on April 13 that she would follow up with Miller, according to the documents.

Cataldo also providing a statement distancing the ex-girlfriend from Miller's death.

"My client, who is a juvenile, did nothing wrong. The fact is my client, at only 15 years of age, had contacted and informed school officials and her now deceased friend's family of concern for her friend," the statement said.

Strothers is now being represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has also represented the families of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin. The group Violence In Boston, led by activist Monica Cannon-Grant, brought wider publicity to the case, and hosted a large rally in Hopkinton on May 6.

At a press event on Wednesday, Strothers and Cannon-Grant pledged to continue demanding answers about Miller's death. Both Hopkinton police and Ryan have said the case is still open and under investigation.

Activists are planning to rally Friday outside Ryan's office in Lowell, according to a Facebook event page.