Editor’s Note: This article contains discussions of suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find resources in your area on the National Crisis Line website or by calling 988.
(NewsNation) — The parents of a Kentucky teen are mourning the loss of their son, who they said died by suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scam involving fake, AI-generated nude images.
Elijah Heacock died Feb. 28 at a local hospital, WBKO-TV reported.
His parents, Shannon Heacock and John Burnett, said they discovered disturbing text messages on his phone while he was still fighting for his life. The texts included threats from an anonymous person who allegedly demanded money or nude images of Elijah Heacock would be sent to his family and friends.
Shannon Heacock said the scam escalated quickly, and the family has seen no warning signs.
“They started asking Eli for money,” she told WBKO. “This person was asking for $3,000; $3,000 from a child, and now we’re looking at $30,000 to bury our son and medical bills.”
Though the photos were not real, it’s unclear whether Elijah Heacock knew they were AI-generated.
What is sextortion?
According to Shannon Heacock, the Barren County Sheriff’s Office responded to the hospital on Feb. 27, where a sheriff’s detective reviewed Elijah Heacock’s phone and escalated the case to the FBI.
She told ABC News that authorities believe Elijah Heacock was the victim of a sextortion, a crime in which offenders solicit and entice a minor to engage in sexual acts and later threaten to release the material online.
Shannon Heacock said she found texts indicating that her son had sent some money to the scammer, to which the scammer replied, “This is not enough,” she told ABC News.
According to the FBI, it’s a growing issue that has led to an “alarming” number of suicides.
“The amount requested varies, and the offender often releases the victim’s sexually explicit material regardless of whether or not they receive payment,” according to the FBI’s website. “This increasing threat has resulted in an alarming number of deaths by suicide.”
‘I don’t want another mother to ever face this’: Shannon Heacock
Shannon Heacock said she wants those responsible to be held accountable and urges other families to be aware of the dangers of online exploitation.
“We need to look through those phones,” she told WBKO. “We need to make sure that they’re safe because there’s monsters out there targeting our babies.”
In addition to the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports a “dramatic increase” in financial sextortion. In 2023, the NCMEC received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion, up from 10,731 in 2022.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.