General Discussion

"This is just one of those bumps in the road," Jen said. "I'm not going to hold it against the school because they've done great with so many other things across the board."

Standing outside the Peters Giant Eagle, a woman who said she has grandkids in the district said she was shocked when she heard the news. The woman declined to give her name.

"I don't know why kids do that stuff," she said, adding that she's sad for the teens involved in the case.

Lucas O'Donnell, 26, who graduated from Peters High in 2018, said while standing outside ALDI that "everybody's totally disgusted by it and 100% just outraged."

Despite the situation, Mr. O'Donnell said he still feels safe living in Peters. Instead, he views it as a situation that's not indicative of the school district or the community.

Ms. Bonifield, the North Strabane resident who previously worked for a neighboring school district, said she saw bullying and vaping take place when her kids, now 20, were in school.

After hearing the news about the catfishing, Ms. Bonifield said she met her son for dinner and talked to him about the situation. She pointed to the charges against Mr. Meyers — "not a way to start your life."

Ms. Bonifield, whose community neighbors Peters, noted that she, and obviously others, were shocked at the news.