There are a plethora of reasons that people try to catfish others on the internet. Studies and straw polls narrow it down to pretty much these: Loneliness, boredom, trolling, low self esteem, and in some rare cases, "revenge" from a past lover who wants to play tricks on you.
Given that they were a teenager on a video game forum, it probably has more to do with ignorance and stupidity instead of malicious intent.
Whatever the reason may be, you will not find closure in the way that you want to find it. Whether they were lonely, or bored, or trolling, the outcome is the same for you. You have 14 years of your life you aren't getting back. The head space you need to be in to move on can't be given by their consent or acknowledgement of what they've done. Their answer would be some variation of:
Originally Posted by Freya
"Oh yeah I do this to multiple people, you caught me, drats."
They wouldn't be able to say anything to justify the time lost. If, by some very small chance, they're still lurking this place a decade and a half later. Chances are they would not own up to what they did, anyway. You've gone so far as to cold message classmates that you suspect were in her geographical location based off pictures she sent you. I think that would make them alarmed and uncomfortable.
I'm fully aware that we don't get to "dictate" what closure means to you. I understand you're looking for information instead of advice, but you're being quite flippant to people who aren't telling you what you want to hear.
In summation:
Best of luck to you. I hope you're able to find closure, even if it's not in the way you want to find it.
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