Community Corner

Mother of Choking Game Victim Appears in PSA

Jeana Monroe's heart broke the day her son died because of the choking game. Now, she's appearing in public service announcements to help educate parents about this very real danger.

After her son died from playing the choking game  Jeana Monroe knew she had to get involved with educating other kids and their parents about the very real dangers associated with it.

Now, she is appearing in a public service announcement on belletv to try and prevent even one more death.

R.J. Monroe was only 15 when he died last December because he played the choking game. Since the medical examiner doesn't have an official cause of death classified as the choking game, R.J.'s death was ruled accidental.

The choking game is a way to experience a kind of high by depriving the body of oxygen to the point of fainting. When kids play it alone, they sometimes use belts instead of their own hands, which can - like R.J. - lead to death.

When Patch spoke to Monroe earlier this year, she talked about making some sort of commercial or PSA to help other parents avoid going through what she's gone through since losing her son.

“When you go through something like this, your heart is just broken,” Monroe said at the time. “If kids won’t listen to anything else, I wish they would just know this –you could potentially ruin your family. I’m never going to be the same again.”

On Saturday, she announced the release of her PSA on her Facebook page.

"Proud to announce the first PSA that I have been asked by the National Mayors is complete thanks to Dominic at Bell TV!" Monroe posted.

She also hinted this isn't the only spot she's filmed.

"The second version will be out within a couple of weeks and will be a much different format," she wrote. "Grateful to be a part of saving lives!"

Perhaps Monroe's friend, Kathy Lauritzen, sums it up best.

"You have such strength. You have turned a great tragedy into something positive. RJ is proud of you I'm sure," she said.


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