Are you happy now, Mrs Petkov? Girl, 9, who faced horrific insults from evil neighbor during brave battle with Huntington's dies

Kathleen Edward, of Wyandotte, Michigan, will be buried next to mother

She also died of degenerative brain disorder Huntington's disease in 2009

Grandmother Rebecca Rose's neighbour put nasty images on Facebook



Jennifer Petkov placed Kathleen's photo above a set of crossbones

Feud between Petkov and Rose 'began over unanswered text message'



A nine-year-old girl whose tragic battle with Huntington's disease captured the nation’s sympathy after she was taunted about her suffering on Facebook by a neighbour died last night.

Kathleen Edward, of Wyandotte, Michigan, is expected to be buried at a memorial garden in nearby town Livonia next to her late mother Laura Edward, 24, who also died of the brain disorder, in 2009.

The girl hit the headlines 15 months ago when Jennifer Petkov, a neighbour of her grandmother Rebecca Rose, posted nasty images on Facebook that made fun of both Kathleen and Mrs Edward.

Dead: Kathleen Edward, 9, pictured, of Wyandotte, Michigan, is expected to be buried at a memorial garden in nearby town Livonia next to her late mother Laura Edward, 24, who died of the same brain disorder in 2009 Well-known: The girl hit the headlines 15 months ago when Jennifer Petkov, a neighbour of her grandmother Rebecca Rose, posted nasty images on her Facebook page that made fun of both Kathleen and her mother



‘She suffered with this disease for a while and she never complained,’ Ms Rose told the Detroit Free Press. ‘She was also happy, always smiling. I didn’t want her to suffer anymore.’

Michigan Memorial Funeral Home in Flat Rock is organising the funeral and Kathleen, who died at 10pm on Wednesday, will be buried next to her late mother at Mount Hope Memorial Gardens.

Mrs Petkov, a former neighbour of Ms Rose in Trenton, became a figure of hatred after admitting to have taunted the girl. One Facebook posting was of the girl's photo placed over a set of crossbones.

Another included a photo of Mrs Edward in the arms of the grim reaper. Global backers who heard about the terrible abuse in October 2010 raised money to send Kathleen on a toy shopping spree.

A feud between Mrs Petkov and Ms Rose reportedly started in 2008 after a simple disagreement over an unanswered text message when the grandmother was holding a birthday party at her home.



Feud: Jennifer Petkov, left, was a former neighbour of the girl's grandmother Rebecca Rose, right, in Trenton



Ms Rose has been inundated with messages of condolence on Facebook following Kathleen's death. ‘I can’t tell everybody how much I appreciate all of the kind words,’ she told the Detroit Free Press.

'She suffered with this disease for a while and she never complained. She was also happy, always smiling' Rebecca Rose, Kathleen's grandmother



Kathleen is survived by her father Robert, stepmother and her two sisters - Ashley, 6, and Madison, 2. Huntington's disease also claimed the life of her grandfather, reported Fox affiliate WJBK.

Mrs Petkov apologised for what she did but faced charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless driving after allegedly trying to run over another neighbour with her car, reported WKBK.

She was sentenced to 18 months of probation for assault and battery, reported Trenton Patch.

Awful experience: Mrs Rose, pictured left with her granddaughter Kathleen, right, has been inundated with messages of condolence on Facebook from well-wishers Tragic: Kathleen is survived by her father Robert, stepmother and her two sisters - Ashley, 6, and Madison, 2. Huntington's disease also claimed the life of her grandfather

Ms Rose told Trenton Patch last June that she was being subjected to a fresh wave of online abuse against her own daughter - Kathleen’s aunt - who was being called a ‘retard’ outside her home.

'I can’t tell everybody how much I appreciate all of the kind words' Rebecca Rose

Mrs Petkov became known as the 'Devil of Detroit Street' and was forced to move home last February after her and her husband Scott attracted international condemnation for what happened.

Last June Ms Rose gave police documents showing more nasty posts allegedly made by the Petkovs. One said: 'Detroit St. Party, When that kid dies, cause boys and girls it’s to happen (sic).'

Another post said: 'Dead and gone, only a few more hours till party time, I’m going to visit a grave and take a p***.' One post came a day before the anniversary of the death of Mrs Edward.

Nasty: Mrs Petkov, a former neighbour of Ms Rose in Trenton, became a figure of hatred after admitting to have taunted the girl. One Facebook posting was of her photo placed above a set of crossbones

Obscene: Another posting included a photo of her mother Laura Edward in the arms of the grim reaper

Police said Ms Rose was 'crying and extremely upset' by those messages in June. She served Personal Protection Orders against the Petkov couple, so they could not communicate with her.

'Detroit St. Party, When that kid dies, cause boys and girls it’s to happen' Jennifer Petkov, neighbour



The huge feud is thought to have begun over an unanswered text message relating to a party.

Ms Rose is understood to have received a text message when she was holding a bouncy castle birthday party from Mrs Petkov, who asked if her children could come over.

But because she did not respond to the text message fast enough, the feud is said to have begun.