A 15‑year‑old West Virginia boy, Bryce Tate of Cross Lanes, died by suicide in November just three hours after receiving a barrage of threatening sextortion messages from an online predator. The case exposes a fast‑growing crisis in which criminals pressure minors into sharing inappropriate images and then use those images to terrorize them for money.
On November 6, Bryce returned from the gym, had a snack, and went outside to play basketball. At 4:37 p.m., he received a text from an unfamiliar number pretending to be a 17‑year‑old local girl. The scammer showed detailed knowledge of Bryce’s gym, friends, and involvement in basketball at Nitro High School — information likely gathered from public social media. After gaining his trust, the scammer asked for photos and then immediately demanded $500, threatening to expose Bryce to his family and classmates.
Bryce pleaded with the scammer, offering the only $30 he had. The predator refused. In the final 20 minutes of his life, Bryce received about 120 messages — a tactic meant to overwhelm victims emotionally and prevent them from seeking help. The scammer even suggested that Bryce had no way out, pushing him further into despair.
His father, Adam Tate, found him dead from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound three hours after the first message arrived. “They say it’s suicide, but in my book, it is 100% murder,” Adam told the New York Post. He described the individuals behind these schemes as heartless criminals who knowingly target vulnerable teens.
Sextortion cases have surged nationwide. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recorded more than 33,000 cases in 2024, with nearly that many in the first half of this year. Many victims are teenage boys targeted by organized international crime networks, including the “764” group. Authorities report that members of the group pressure minors into producing more content and share it among other offenders, sometimes even hosting real‑time online sessions to watch victims being harassed.
The Department of Justice announced in April that two leaders of the 764 group were arrested and charged with operating an international child exploitation enterprise.
Bryce’s death echoes several recent tragedies, including those of 16‑year‑old Walker Montgomery, 16‑year‑old Waylon Scheffer, 17‑year‑old Ryan Last, and 17‑year‑old Jordan DeMay — all pushed to suicide after being targeted by similar schemes.
Adam Tate is calling for “Bryce’s Law,” an addition to a cyberbullying bill in West Virginia that would impose stricter penalties on criminals whose actions lead to self‑harm or suicide. He urges parents to be proactive. “You cannot find a closer family than me, my wife, and my son,” he said. “But having a close family is not enough. You have to talk about these threats.”
