Cyberbullying Allegations Continue After Firefighter Commits Suicide

FAIRFAX, Va. (WJZ) -- A firefighter who went missing in Virginia and was later found dead may have been the victim of extreme cyberbullying.

Jessica Kartalija reports some are outraged over the sexist comments posted online about the firefighter, which may have led her to kill herself.

Nicole Mittendorff has been laid to rest after a massive search led to her body in the Shenandoah National Park. An investigation is now underway into lurid postings about her on a community gossip site, Fairfax Underground.

"It was raunchy, it was offensive, it was disrespectful," said Jane McKinley, a Fairfax resident

The 31-year-old called in sick before she went missing a week and a half ago.

Friends and neighbors say she was separated from her husband, Virginia State trooper Steve Mittendorff, but they say the two may have been trying to reconcile.

"This blog and social media is out of control," said Fire Chief Richie Bowers.

Bowers says he has a zero tolerance policy to bullying and harassment.

"I will use any local, any state, any regional or federal resource to, again, look under every rock," Bowers said.

He says he's certain the comments were not posted on county computers or devices because they don't have access to the gossip website, but if he finds out the posters were employees or volunteers, he says they may be terminated. He made a request:

"One, take the lewd comments down and two, turn the site off if people aren't going to act right. When you have anonymous posts and people can say anything and it's not factual or true, it's wrong. It's absolutely wrong," Bowers said.

The postings appear to be from fellow firefighters, though they are anonymous.