URGENT UPDATE: A devastated father is raising the alarm over a deadly trend known as ‘sextortion’ after his 15-year-old son, Bryce Tate, tragically took his own life. Bryce was found dead on November 6, 2024, just hours after receiving a threatening message from online scammers.
Bryce returned home from the gym, shared lunch with his mother, and played basketball before the nightmare began. At approximately 4:30 p.m., he received an unsettling text from an unknown number. By just 7:30 p.m., Bryce had taken his own life, leaving his family and community in shock. “They say it’s suicide, but in my book, it is 100% murder,” his father, Adam Tate, expressed to the New York Post.
The young boy became the latest victim of a vicious sextortion scheme preying on unsuspecting teenagers. According to a spokesperson for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, there have been over 33,000 reports of child sextortion in 2024 alone. Fraudsters impersonate teenage girls to gain trust, gathering information from social media profiles to make their approach appear authentic.
“They acted like a local 17-year-old girl. They knew which gym he worked out at, and they knew his friends,” Adam detailed. The scammers then solicited explicit photos from their victims, threatening exposure if demands for money were not met. In Bryce’s case, they requested $500, an amount far beyond what the 15-year-old could muster. “My son had 30 freaking dollars,” Adam recalled, “and he was willing to give it all.”
Tragically, the extortionists escalated their threats, urging Bryce to end his life, saying “because your life is already over.” In his final moments, Bryce received over 120 texts in a short span, a tactic designed to keep victims engaged and overwhelmed.
The FBI has reported a significant uptick in sextortion cases involving minors, with many victims coerced into sending explicit images. “We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of sextortion cases,” stated FBI public affairs specialist Bradford Arick.
Bryce’s case is part of a larger crisis affecting teens nationwide. Other tragic victims include Walker Montgomery, a 16-year-old football star from Mississippi, and three others who lost their lives to similar scams in 2022. Legal actions against perpetrators have been limited, with some involved receiving minimal sentences.
Now, Adam Tate is determined to take action. He is lobbying West Virginia lawmakers to enact Bryce’s Law, which aims to impose tougher penalties for crimes that result in self-harm or suicide. “You have to have that conversation,” he implores other parents. “Having a close family is not enough.”
As the investigation into Bryce’s death continues, families are urged to stay vigilant against the insidious tactics of online predators. The emotional toll is profound, as one family’s tragedy underscores the urgent need for awareness and dialogue about the dangers lurking in digital spaces.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
