PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The family of a 14-year-old West Michigan boy who died by suicide after he was blackmailed over explicit pictures hopes sharing his story will save lives.
“The message from Henry’s parents is this could happen to anyone,” the family’s attorney said. “You got to tell (kids), and you got to tell them again. You’ve got to sit down with your own kids. You’ve got to tell them again.”
Henry’s death by suicide in August led to the arrest of a Plainfield Township boy, also 14, who deputies say targeted a total of 17 children, three in Michigan, in a sextortion scheme.
Described as “kind-hearted” and “charismatic,” Henry played soccer and basketball, ran track and last summer worked his first jobs as a caddy and dishwasher.
“Henry was not a troubled kid. He was a 14-year-old ninth grader, played basketball, well-liked. He was your everyday child growing up in Grand Rapids,” Marc Lipton, the family’s attorney, told News 8 Monday.
But when the blackmailer posed as a girl online, convinced Henry to send an illicit photo over Snapchat and then threatened to release it publicly unless he sent more, it “caused Henry to panic and end his own life shortly after he was threatened,” his parents said in a statement.
His parents said he was an organ donor.
The teen behind the sextortion scheme was charged with six felonies related to sexually abusive activity and recently pleaded guilty in juvenile court.
“As difficult as it is, we believe we have a responsibility to share Henry’s story publicly in hopes of preventing other families from experiencing the same nightmare we’re living,” Henry’s parents stated. “The most important takeaway we want other kids in our community to know is that sending inappropriate pics is a bad decision, but if someone threatens to spread your photo(s), they are committing a CRIME and you deserve to be protected. If someone is trying to control and humiliate you because of your photos, please reach out for help.”
State lawmakers have passed legislation criminalizing sextortion specifically.
Anyone who has been targeted by a sextortion scheme can report it at 1.800.CALL.FBI (225.5324) or tips.fbi.gov. If you or anyone you know is in crisis, you can call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time at 988.