DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo.  Waterford Crystal Drive is one of those suburban streets that seem so new as to have no history at all. But the suicide of a teenage girl — and allegations she had been tormented by a neighbor over the Internet — have brought a reaction that is old, almost tribal, in its nature. Residents of the middle-class subdivision have turned against the neighbor, Lori Drew, and her family, demanding the Drews move out. In interviews, they have warned that someone might be tempted to "take matters into their own hands." "It's like they used to do in the 1700s and 1800s. If you wronged a community, you were basically shunned. That's basically what happened to her," said Trever Buckles, 40, who lives next door to the Drews. Drew became an outcast after she participated in a hoax in which a fictional teenager who went by the name of Josh Evans exchanged online messages with 13-year-old Megan Meier. Megan received cruel messages from "Josh" that apparently drove her to hang herself in her closet in 2006. Through her lawyer, Drew — a mother of two in her 40s — has denied saying hurtful things to the girl over the Internet, and prosecutors have said they found no grounds for charges against the woman. Nevertheless, the community reaction has been vengeful and the pressure on the Drews intense. More than 100 residents gathered in front of their home on a recent evening, holding candles and reciting stories about Megan. Last December, after neighbors learned of the Internet hoax, someone threw a brick through a window in the Drew home. A few weeks ago, someone made a prank call to police reporting that there had been a shooting inside the Drews' house, prompting squad cars to arrive with sirens flashing. Someone recently obtained the password to change the Drews' outgoing cellphone recording, and replaced it with a disturbing message. Police would not detail the content. Clients have fled from Drew's home-based advertising business, so she had to close it. Neighbors have not seen Drew outside her home in weeks. Death threats and ugly insults have been hurled at Drew over the Internet, where she has been portrayed as a monster who should go to prison, lose custody of her children, or worse. Her name and address have been posted online, and a website with satellite images of the home said the Drews should "rot in hell." Some of the threats "really freak me out," Buckles said while standing on his front porch after dark Tuesday. As he spoke, a car slowed and stopped in front of Drew's home. It sat there idling for a few minutes, then sped away. Buckles said it is a common occurrence. "I just really hope that no one comes out here and does something insane," Buckles said. "If they do, I hope they get the right house." Sheriff's Lt. David Tiefenbrunn said patrols have been stepped up around Drew's house. "There could be individuals out there with a vigilante-type attitude that might want to take revenge," he said. The Drews — Lori, husband Curt and two children — live in a one-story ranch-style house. An older man at the house, who described himself only as a relative, said Lori Drew would not comment. He would not say whether the family planned to move. Ron and Tina Meier's home is four houses away from the Drews. The sidewalk is curved, so the neighbors can't see each other from their front doors. The breach between the once-friendly families seems beyond repair. "I think that what they have done is so despicable, that I think it absolutely disgusts people," Tina Meier said. "I can't take one ounce of energy worrying about who does not like Lori Drew or who hates Lori Drew. I could not care less." Just a year ago, Waterford Crystal Drive was the kind of quiet suburban street where joggers waved hello while kids played in the yard. Lately the road has been choked with news trucks, and neighbors hustle inside to avoid questions. The Drews used to fit in just fine, said neighbor John McIntyre, who described Lori Drew as an intensely social woman. McIntyre fondly remembered Megan, too. She came across the street to babysit McIntyre's 4-year-old daughter, Genna, and arrived with a clipboard and notes, determined to do the job right. "She was a good kid," he said. Megan became friends with the Drews' young daughter, according to a report provided by prosecutors. The girls had a falling-out in 2006. A teenage employee of Drew's named Ashley said she created the "Josh" account on MySpace after a brainstorming session with Drew and her daughter, according to a prosecutor's report. Drew said the girls approached her with the idea, and she told them only to send polite messages to Megan. Ashley sent Megan many of the messages from "Josh," and Lori Drew was aware of them, prosecutors said. On Oct. 16, 2006, there was a heated online exchange between Megan and Ashley, posing as Josh. A few other MySpace users joined in, calling Megan names. It ended when "Josh" said the world would be better off without Megan. Tina Meier said Megan went to her room, crying. About 20 minutes later, she was found hanging from a belt around her neck. Drew's attorney Jim Briscoe told NBC that Drew "absolutely, 100%" had nothing to do with the negative comments posted about Megan and wasn't aware of them until after the girl took her life. Enlarge By Tom Gannam, AP Tina Meier holds two pictures of her daughter, Megan, who committed suicide last October after receiving cruel messages on MySpace, Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.