A 15-year-old West Virginia student, Bryce Tate, died shortly after being targeted in an aggressive online sextortion scheme, according to his family. His father, Adam Tate, said the sudden loss stunned everyone who knew Bryce, and investigators later uncovered messages on the teen’s phone that revealed the pressure he had been placed under in the hours before his death.
Detectives found that Bryce had been targeted by perpetrators running a rapidly growing form of online extortion. These schemes typically involve adults posing as teenage girls, gathering personal details from social media profiles, and using them to build trust. Once they convince a victim that the interaction is genuine, scammers attempt to coerce them into sharing intimate images and then demand money under threat of exposing them.
Adam Tate told the New York Post that the impersonators appeared to know specific, locally relevant details about Bryce’s life—his school, athletic involvement, and even his social circle—making the ruse seem credible. According to the family, the scammers sent photos that appeared to be of a real teen, likely another victim. They then demanded money and escalated the threats when Bryce could not provide what they asked.
Investigators later reported that Bryce had received an overwhelming barrage of messages in a very short time—a tactic experts say is commonly used to create panic and impair judgment.
Bryce’s father describes the people behind these schemes as predatory individuals who deliberately target vulnerable teens. He argues that although Bryce’s death was ruled a suicide, the relentless manipulation he faced amounts to a form of victimization.
Organizations that track crimes against minors, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, say reports of sextortion involving youth have surged dramatically. The FBI has also acknowledged a sharp spike in complaints, warning that these operations are widespread and increasingly sophisticated.
Bryce is remembered as a kind, funny, and thoughtful young man who deeply cared for his friends and family. He loved sports, video games, and working out. His community held a memorial service in mid-November to honor his life.
