Boy, 15, takes own life after he was pulled into s£xtortion scheme targeting teens

A boy did just hours after he was pulled into a sickening sxtortion scheme, his heartbroken father said. Bryce Tate, 15, from Cross Lanes, West Virginia, was found de@d in his home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 6, 2025.When detectives searched through his phone, they uncovered the disturbing messages he had received moments before he took his own life. Online s3xtortion ruses have surged, with ruthless perpetrators targeting teenage boys, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Predators study their social media profiles, cozy up to them and pretend to be a flirtatious girl in a bid to extort them for money. Just three hours before he took his own life, an unknown number texted him, pretending to be a teenage girl who was interested in him, his father, Adam Tate, told the New York Post.  Bryce with his parentsAdam wrote on Facebook: “He was contacted by someone posing as a 17-year-old local girl who claimed to share mutual friends with him. “They knew his school and used those details to build trust, making it seem like a genuine connection from nearby. “The conversation started innocently but quickly escalated when the person sent inappropriate photos and requested some in return. “Like many 15-year-old boys, Bryce complied.” Once the photos were sent, the extortion began as Bryce was asked to pay $500, which he didnt have. Adam said his son only had $30 which he repeatedly offered to the scammers. His father said: “They shamed him relentlessly, convincing him that this one mistake had ruined his life forever. “Bryce, feeling trapped with no way out and believing his world was destroyed, was manipulated into taking his own life.” Within the last 20 minutes of his life the scammers messaged Bryce 120 times, police found. Although his son took his own life, Adam said he was murdred by “godless demons” who are “just cowards, awful individuals, worse than criminals”. To Adam, what happened to his son was “100% murdr”. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tracked more than 33,000 reports of child sxtortion cases in 2024 alone, the group told the New York Post. In the first six months of this year, approximately the same amount of reports came in, according to the non-profit. Bryces obituary read: “Bryce was an extraordinary young man whose light touched everyone fortunate enough to know him. “As an amazing son and devoted friend, he embodied respect, intelligence, and a boundless sense of humor that could brighten even the darkest days. “Bryce leaves behind a legacy of kindness, motivation, and unshakeable faith that will continue to inspire his family, friends, and community.” A celebration of his life was held on November 13. The FBI is investigating Bryces case and the s3xtortion ruse.The post Boy, 15, takes own life after he was pulled into sxtortion scheme targeting teens appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.