Mourning local couple warns teens, parents about dangers of sextortion

by Dan Holland

Parents and children alike are learning about one of the newer forms of cyberbullying called sextortion, an online crime targeting minors that can lead to tragic consequences.

Such was the case for Tim and Tamia Woods of Streetsboro. Tim came home from work one day last November to find that their 17-year-old son, James, a high school senior, had taken his own life. During a subsequent police investigation, which involved unlocking James’ cellphone, authorities determined that James had given into the pressures of online sextortioners who had messaged him with threats more than 200 times within a 19-hour time period.

Sextortion is when an adult convinces a minor to share personal images or videos of a sexual nature through deception and manipulation – often sending explicit images to the victim under the guise of wanting to form a relationship. Once the victim forwards the images, the perpetrator often threatens to use the images in a detrimental way online unless the victim agrees to send money.

A “Tech Talk” program held at Nordonia High School in March addressed this topic with a panel consisting of Tim and Tamia Woods and three special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cleveland Field Office. It was presented in tandem with the Twinsburg City School District.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, nearly 8,000 cases involving sextortion of minors were reported between 2019 and 2021, and more than 7,000 cases were reported in 2022, according to FBI data. Close to 20 different online social media applications – all containing a chat function – were utilized in these crimes. Targeted victims are most often males between 13-17 years old, but cases with victims as young as 10 have been documented.

The Woods, who established the “Do It For James Foundation” in memory of their son, appeared at a March 9 press conference alongside Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, held at the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio in Independence. Husted is championing passage of the Social Media Parental Notification Act, which would require specific online companies to obtain verified parental consent from any family member 16 and under prior to use of a social media platform. The law would apply to many commonly used applications including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and others.

“We met with [Husted] and his wife and talked with them for a good period of time that night,” Tim Woods said. “They just want to make sure that certain people get punished for the things that they do. Once they can get something on the books, that will be a good starting point.”

“We’re getting the message out there, as sextortion is new, and parents will have the luxury of knowing what it is now,” added Tamia. “They can sit with their children and educate not only themselves but their children as well. We also want to make sure that parents understand and give their children grace, knowing they will make mistakes, just like we did at that age. But we need to provide them with tools so that if they feel all alone – like they’re lost in that moment – they have something to reference and not do the ultimate thing as our son did.”

Tim said money is the motivating factor in sextortion. “They’ll bully you and do everything they can to pressure the person and isolate them from their parents, which was our son’s experience,” he said.

“I know we can’t save everyone, but we want to do our part as far as making sure parents are aware of what this type of sextortion is and the lengths to which these people will go to try to extort money from your kids,” said Tamia.

In a message directed toward youths, Tamia added: “I want the kids out there to know that there is no test out there that is too big that is ever worth your life; forgiveness is there for you. You need to think as much as you can to try to get out of the situation, but if you feel you cannot go to your parents, go to a trusted adult. Understand that you are the victim; you made a mistake, but you are still the victim.”

Victims of online sextortion are urged to contact local police, the Cleveland Field Office of the FBI or visit NCEMC at cybertipline.org.

For information on the Do It For James Foundation, visit letsdifj.org. ∞

FEATURED PHOTO: Tim and Tamia Woods speak about their son being a victim of sextortion. Photo by Dan Holland.