Teen’s Suicide Blamed on Social Media ‘Sextortion’

The Dangers of Social Media “Sextortion”: A Family’s Tragic Story

The family of a Michigan teenager who tragically died by suicide in March of 2022 is speaking out about the alarming rise of social media “sextortion.”

Jordan DeMay, 17, took his own life after falling victim to a Nigerian man who posed as a woman on Instagram. The imposter solicited nude photos from Jordan and threatened to share them online unless he paid $1,000. This suspect, 22-year-old Samuel Ogoshi from Lagos, Nigeria, was one of three individuals arrested for hacking Instagram accounts to sexually exploit victims like Jordan, as reported by Fox News.

Jordan’s father, John DeMay, shared his heart-wrenching story with Fox News, saying, “My son was smart. He was a good student. He was a great athlete. Someone came to his bedroom at 3 in the morning and murdered him through Instagram when we were all sleeping at night, and we had zero chance to stop it.”

Jordan, a senior and football player at Marquette Senior High School in Michigan, unknowingly engaged with the imposter on Instagram, thinking it was a woman. Little did he know, the account had been hacked by Ogoshi, who used it to extort young men and boys into sending explicit photos. According to the FBI, Jordan sent a compromising photo of himself to the account, which Ogoshi then used as leverage to demand money.

“All you have to do is cooperate with me, and I won’t expose you,” a message to Jordan read.

“I can send these nudes to everyone and also send your nudes until it goes viral,” Ogoshi reportedly wrote. “Just pay me now, and I won’t expose you.”

The extortioner demanded $1,000, and Jordan initially sent $300. However, Ogoshi continued to threaten Jordan, even threatening to send the explicit photo to his family. Overwhelmed and desperate, Jordan tragically told Ogoshi that he was going to take his own life.

“Good. Do that fast. Or I’ll make you do it. I swear to God,” Ogoshi heartlessly replied.

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Ogoshi has been charged by federal authorities with four counts, including attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death and conspiracy to sexually exploit minors by causing them to produce child pornographic images, as reported by NBC TV6. If convicted, Ogoshi could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten expressed his sympathy for Jordan’s family and emphasized the importance of justice in these cases. He said, “Sextortion is a horrible crime that can leave especially younger victims feeling ashamed with nowhere to turn. My heart goes out to the family of Jordan DeMay. Nothing can bring Jordan back, but my office is committed to securing justice and, alongside Jordan’s family, sending an urgent warning so others can protect themselves and their families. We will travel the world to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable.”

Reflecting on the tragedy, John DeMay admitted that he had stopped monitoring Jordan’s social media use as closely because his son was almost an adult. He said, “Jordan is such a rare case. I mean, he was a few weeks away from being 18 years old. We didn’t, I didn’t monitor social media anymore.”

If given the chance, John would tell Jordan “every single day” that sexual extortion is not the end of life. He wants other young people to understand that there is hope beyond such devastating situations.

Seeking Help

The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 by dialing 988.