( CNN ) -- Two 18-year-old men face child pornography charges in connection with the case of a 17-year-old girl who hanged herself after she was allegedly gang-raped and bullied online , Canadian authorities said Thursday evening . A police statement did not provide details , but the family of Rehtaeh Parsons has said she developed suicidal thoughts after she was sexually assaulted in 2011 and a picture of the incident was shared by phone and online . The two men whose names were not released were arrested Thursday morning at their homes in Halifax , Nova Scotia , according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Halifax Regional Police . One man faces two counts of distribution of child pornography , authorities said . The other is accused of one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of making child pornography . The two , who were minors at the time of the incident , were released on a promise to appear August 15 in youth court . Parsons was taken off life support in April , three days after she hanged herself . Internet trolls : What to do about the scourge of the Web ? The alleged sexual assault by four boys happened in November 2011 when Rehtaeh was 15 , her family said . Authorities confirmed that a photograph was circulated to friends ' mobile phones and computers . Police investigated , but no criminal charges were filed at that time . In April , police in eastern Canada announced they would reopen the case `` in light of new and credible information that has recently been brought forward to police . '' Chief Superintendent Roland Wells of Halifax District RCMP said he hoped the arrests will help the community heal . `` A young girl has died in what was a tragic set of circumstances , '' Wells said in Thursday evening 's statement . `` We all need to reflect on how we as a community can come together in Rehtaeh 's memory and see what we can do to work together to support our youth . '' When evidence goes viral . Parsons ' mother told CNN affiliate CBC on Thursday that she felt `` better '' now that arrests have been made . Leah Parsons said she learned of the arrests when police came to her house to tell her . `` I felt a little bit of relief , just to say , finally -- like I hope -- they keep saying they want to tell their side of the story , but they have never given a statement . The police have never spoken to them in all this time . So at least , here is your chance . Tell your side of the story , '' she said . News of the arrests came one day after cybersafety legislation inspired by Parsons was implemented in Nova Scotia . Opinion : The dark side of social media . The law allows victims , among other things , to sue their alleged cyberbullies . If a bully is a minor , the bully 's parents can be held liable . Officials said the timing of the arrests and the implementation of the legislation was merely a coincidence .
Police had begun investigations ; two males now face charges . 17-year - old Rehtaeh Parsons died two days after shooting herself . Her family said she was raped and a photo was circulated .