The family of Rehtaeh Parsons is upset after posters defending the four boys allegedly involved in the case were tacked up in and around Halifax neighbourhoods this week, including one outside Rehtaeh's mother's home.

Police received a number of complaints from residents about the brightly coloured flyers that bear the words “Speak the Truth. There's two sides to every story. Listen before you judge. The truth will come out. Stay strong and support the boys."

The posters do not identify the four boys but RCMP Cpl. Scott MacRae said he is concerned the flyers could incite vigilante behaviour against the teens – something the police have warned about before as anger surrounding the case continues to swell.

Rehtaeh passed away earlier this month after she was taken off life support following a suicide attempt a few days earlier. Her story has gained international attention in recent weeks, placing the spotlight on issues of bullying and sexual violence. The teen’s family has alleged she was raped and photographed by four boys in 2011, when she was 15, leading to months of bullying after the fact.

Neighbours in Cole Harbour, N.S., quickly ripped the posters down this week but Leah Parsons, Rehtaeh’s mother, told CTV Atlantic she is still shocked.

“To think that after my daughter is gone, you have the nerve to come on our street, where her little sisters live, in this community, and put that in my face. That’s just not acceptable.”

Parsons also fired back on the Facebook page she created to honour her 17-year-old daughter’s memory, telling the boys’ supporters how inappropriate their actions were.

“This is our street , we are mourning our daughter, my children live in this neighbourhood. If you wanted to speak the truth...why didn’t you speak when Rehtaeh was alive...” she wrote. “Really???? You have no compassion....but we knew that already.”

The RCMP said the posters do not violate any laws. But MacRae added a Facebook page created in support of the four boys was recently shut down by its curators after police raised concerns that the identities of the boys could be made public online and interfere with the ongoing police investigation.

Last Friday, officials announced they are re-opening the case after “new and credible information” was brought forward. No charges were initially laid in the assault investigation, sparking a public outcry following news of Rehtaeh’s death.

Half a million people have signed an online petition asking for an independent inquiry into how police initially handled the case.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl and The Canadian Press