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Captain Steve Chatterton of the Greece Police Department says investigators have authenticated the video with four Greece Middle School students, all seventh grade boys. "We received a ton of community outpour and outrage, but we have had some difficulties in the investigation," explains Chatterton. "In order to charge a 13 year old in family court, you have to rise to the level of a crime, a misdemanor or a felony. Harassment in New York is a violation. We're looking to determine if this rose to the level of a crime."
Chatterton says he's spoken with the four boys and their parents. "Not only have we spoken with them, they've been cooperative. They've come in voluntarily, not asked for counsel. They've taken responsibilities for their actions. As one father put it, his son is sitting back waiting his punishment," says Chatterton.
Chatterton says he spoke with Karen Klein about her options. He says Klein has decided she's happy with the case going through the school district. "At this time, she does not want to press criminal charges," says Chatterton, though he notes Klein can change her mind at anytime.
By Thursday morning, the video that was posted to YouTube had been viewed more than 1.5 million times. An online crowd-funding site raised about $380,000 by Thursday night to help send Klein on vacation.
Klein discussed her ordeal with CNN's Anderson Cooper on his "AC360" broadcast on Thursday night.
Klein told the CNN anchor that she'd never been treated like that before -- and explained what was going through her mind during the ordeal.
"I was trying to get it out of my mind. I was trying to make it go away," Klein said in her interview.
Klein told Cooper she isn't sure why the students were acting that way -- perhaps, she says, just trying to impress each other. She's just hoping the students don't act that way again -- and has an idea for a punishment.
"At least kept off the bus for a year, and be forbidden to play any sports, at least for a year," she says.
She also suggests some community service might be a good idea. Klein says, at this point, she's just not sure about pursuing criminal charges.
During the interview, Cooper told Klein that Southwest Airlines wants to send her and nine others to Disneyland in California. She said that would be just awesome.