Instagram sparks outrage for leaving up grisly photo of slain 17-year-old social media star

Instagram is under fire for allowing a grisly photo of a slain 17-year-old social media star to stay up for nearly a day after it was posted by her boyfriend, 21, who slit her throat.

The image of Bianca Devins’ body was shared by Brandon Andrew Clark, 21, of Cicero in upstate New York, with the caption ‘I’m sorry Bianca’ at around 6.40am on Sunday. 

By Sunday evening, the photo was still active and had been put behind a blurred-out sensitive content filter, BuzzFeed News reported. 

But users could still view the picture by tapping the screen — because Instagram had not yet deemed it in ‘violation of its guidelines’.

On Monday night, Clark was charged with second-degree murder and faces up to 25 years in prison if he is convicted, according to the New York Post.

Brandon Andrew Clark, 21, of Cicero, is accused of killing 17-year-old Bianca Devins, pictured, before inflicting severe injuries to himself in upstate New York

Police said Clark - thought to be a frequent user of the dark web site 4chan - was being held on a second-degree murder charge and is currently hospitalized

Police said Clark – thought to be a frequent user of the dark web site 4chan – was being held on a second-degree murder charge and is currently hospitalized 

The New York Post reported that the company did not disable Clark’s account, @yesjuliet, until Monday morning, according to a spokesperson for the firm. 

A spokesman for Instagram told DailyMail.com: ‘We removed this image, and subsequently the account, for violating our policies. 

‘To stop the content from spreading, we have technology that allows us to proactively find other attempts to upload the image in question, and automatically remove these posts before anyone sees them. 

‘We are also reviewing hashtags and accounts claiming to share this content and taking action in line with our policies.’ 

Instagram declined to say what time the image of Devins’ body was removed.

After news broke on social media of Devins’ killing, users flooded both Clark and Devins’ profiles and made light of or celebrated the teen’s death.

Some posted in the comments that they were sharing photos of Devins’ body and asking people to follow them. 

Others urged people to stop circulating the images, which had also appeared in online chat sites including 4chan and Discord, of which Clark is thought to be a frequent user.  

Twitter users criticized social media sites including Instagram for not taking the content down for hours

Twitter users criticized social media sites including Instagram for not taking the content down for hours 

Many people were able to share the graphic picture before it was put behind a filter and then deleted

Many people were able to share the graphic picture before it was put behind a filter and then deleted 

Utica police said they are working to address the sharing of the images with various social media platforms. 

Devins’ body was found outside her car under a tarp in Utica on Sunday morning after Discord users who saw the photo alerted police at around 7.20am.

Officers were trying to find the teen when Clark called 9-1-1 himself to report what he’d done, Utica’s public safety department said in a statement. 

Internet star Bianca – who had 35,000 followers across two Instagram pages – is thought to have argued with Clark after the pair went to a concert in Queens. 

The social media influencer's sister Liv Devins paid tribute to her sister, center, with this image

The social media influencer’s sister Liv Devins paid tribute to her sister, center, with this image 

A disturbing image is said to have been shared of Bianca showing her dead. The picture is said to have been online for more than 12 hours until Instagram removed it

A disturbing image is said to have been shared of Bianca showing her dead. The picture is said to have been online for more than 12 hours until Instagram removed it

They arrived back in Utica early Sunday and went to a spot on a dead-end street, according to the police statement. 

There, they argued until Clark allegedly used a large knife to kill the teenager.

Officers found Clark stabbing himself in the neck, causing injuries that required hospital treatment. 

He then lay down on a green tarp and took selfies lying across the dead teenager before officers took him into custody, police said.   

Brandon Andrew Clark, 21, of Cicero, is said to have then written he was 'sorry' after Bianca Devins was found dead outside her car in Utica on Sunday morning. Utica police told BuzzFeed News Clark posted to Instagram Stories even as he was being held at gunpoint by officers

Brandon Andrew Clark, 21, of Cicero, is said to have then written he was ‘sorry’ after Bianca Devins was found dead outside her car in Utica on Sunday morning. Utica police told BuzzFeed News Clark posted to Instagram Stories even as he was being held at gunpoint by officers

Clark is reported to have changed his the bio for his Instagram account to: '10/06/1997 – 7/14/19. Just know that I feel no pain now.' He is also thought to have posted an Instagram story with the caption: 'Here comes Hell. It's redemption, right?'

Clark is reported to have changed his the bio for his Instagram account to: ’10/06/1997 – 7/14/19. Just know that I feel no pain now.’ He is also thought to have posted an Instagram story with the caption: ‘Here comes Hell. It’s redemption, right?’

Utica police told BuzzFeed News Clark keept posting to Instagram Stories while he was being held at gunpoint by officers. 

The couple met on Instagram about two months ago, police said.

Initially, they were online acquaintances only, but the ‘relationship progressed into a personally intimate one,’ police said. ‘They had spent time together, and were acquainted with each other’s families.’  

The case is being investigated as a murder and attempted suicide, Utica police Lt. Bryan Coromato said, and Clark was being held on a second-degree murder charge. 

Brandon Andrew Clark known as @yesjuliet on Instagram had his page disabled

Brandon Andrew Clark known as @yesjuliet on Instagram had his page disabled 

Police believe Clark left this message on the ground, according to local reports

Police believe Clark left this message on the ground, according to local reports

A woman thought to be Bianca’s sister, Liv Devins, called Clark a ‘close family friend who we trusted so much’.  

Clark is reported to have changed his bio for his Instagram account to: ’10/06/1997 – 7/14/19. Just know that I feel no pain now.’ 

He is later thought to have posted a Instagram story with the caption: ‘Here comes Hell. It’s redemption, right?’ 

And police believe Clark left a message on the ground with spray paint which read: ‘May you never forget me.’  

The blogger’s sister Liv paid tribute to her sister, writing: ‘I hate that I have to write this. I hate knowing you’re not going to ever come back home. 

‘You were the best sister anyone could’ve ever asked for. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for being the best sister I could ever imagine.

‘Thank you for always protecting me and sticking up for me. I am going to do this for you. Every day I’m going to do my best and I’m going to get through this thing called life and do it all for you. Rest easy, I love you so much forever and always.’  

A man with the user name @jamesward2017, who claimed to be Clark’s brother, posted to Instagram to say he and his family had been targeted in the wake of Bianca’s death.  

He said: ‘Shoutout to all the people who target someone’s family and blame them for a persons decisions. 

‘Nothing better than waking up at 4am to find out your brother killed someone and tried to kill himself, and when you’re trying to understand and comprehend how the person you looked up to, and taught you so much is responsible for such a horrible act, and people proceed to go out and blame you for what he did. 

‘So here I am stationed in Alaska for military service wanting nothing more than to wake up and be back home hoping this is some sick twisted nightmare, instead I’m all the way across the country. 

‘I’m deeply sorry something like this came from my family and my heart goes out for the family of the victim, but think about when his little sister and brothers find out what a disgusting thing he’s done, and get blamed for it. They’re kids.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk