
lisa AvilezLos Angeles, CA, United States
Apr 18, 2017
Katelyn Nicole Davis
Katelyn Nicole Davis Instagram selfie.jpg
Born February 20, 2004
Rome, Georgia, U.S.
Died December 30, 2016 (aged 12)
Cedartown, Georgia, U.S.
Cause of death Suicide by hanging
Resting place New Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery
Cedartown, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality American
Parent(s) Tammy M. Parish Rogers
Matthew Reed Davis
Katelyn Nicole Davis (February 20, 2004 – December 30, 2016), known online by the username ITZ Dolly, was a 12-year-old American who died by suicide. She hanged herself from a tree in her front yard while live streaming the event to Live.me. The video was shared on social media, particularly on Facebook.[1][2] The resulting publicity brought an outpouring of online support[3] and attention to the issues of suicide causes and prevention, child abuse, bullying, and appropriate use of social media.[4]
Katelyn was an active blogger on multiple social media sites, and recorded dozens of videos in the last month of her life.[5][6] They give a detailed insight upon the experiences in her life, leading up to the day of her death. In various videos, she sings,[7] shares spiritual philosophy,[8] or takes care of her younger siblings Abbigail and A.J. In other videos, she argues with her mother, breaks down emotionally, and claims being neglected by her biological father alongside being physically and sexually abused by her stepfather. In one of her videos, she mentioned that her stepfather encouraged her to kill herself.[9][10] She commented: "He told me I should go hang myself because I was worthless."[11][12] The allegations of abuse caused the Polk County Police to open an investigation.[13][14]The investigation was closed in March of 2017. Katelyn also said that she had been bullied at school, and that she had been a victim of catfishing by someone pretending to be of the opposite gender online.[15][16]
Katelyn considered herself to be emo and struggled with depression.[17] She had a previous suicide attempt through medication overdose, for which she was hospitalized. She also engaged in self-harm, cutting her wrists and thighs, including a few days before her death. However, she also sought to help others overcome problems with both self-harm and depression.[18]
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