'One child lost is one too many. ' Sextortion case that led to teen's suicide under investigation

A sextortion case that led to the suicide of a Streetsboro High School senior this past Saturday is under an active investigation, with the possibility that federal authorities may become involved.

"We are working to identify, to the best of our abilities, who the subject might have been that he was in contact with," said Streetsboro Police Lt. Rich Polivka, adding the suspect may be outside of the United States.

The cause of 17-year-old James Woods' death was suicide, according to a media release issued Tuesday from Streetsboro City Schools Superintendent Mike Daulbaugh and Police Chief Tricia Wain.

"With his parents' blessing and encouragement, the Streetsboro City Schools and the Streetsboro Police Department are releasing the information to prevent further tragedy," Wain wrote in an email accompanying the release. "It is our hope that in sharing the message, we open up the lines of communication between children, parents, educators and police. One child lost is one too many."

More:Investigator: Streetsboro student's death not seen as suspicious or a homicide

The disclosure about the cause of Woods' death was made with the cooperation of his parents, Tamia and Timothy Woods, because they want to help educate the public about suicide and sextortion.

"Suicide is a complicated act with a variety of causes," the release said. "When discussing this with your family, it is important to discourage talk about how the suicide happened and focus on how your child feels. Each person copes with grief differently; the most important thing is to promote healthy conversations with your children during this difficult time. The Woods family, through their incredible strength, 'wants to ensure that this does not happen to other families. Please talk to your children and make sure you know what is going on with them.'

"Our greatest fear at this point is that our community suffers another tragedy," the release said. "Sadly, that is something that is not uncommon in a phenomenon known as suicide contagion."

What is sextortion?

Authorities blamed Woods' suicide on sextortion, a crime in which an adult poses online as an individual the same age as the victim in order to trick the victim into sharing "sexual pictures or perform sexual acts on camera."

"Our school district has been made aware that not only was James a victim of sextortion, but more of our students are being targeted," the release stated. "Sextortion is typically performed by people unknown by the students, and oftentimes by people living overseas who are virtually untraceable. Sextortion is a nationwide epidemic, with suicide unfortunately being the end result in multiple instances."

In sextortion, the person may also threaten to distribute the victim's private and sensitive material if they don’t provide images of a sexual nature, sexual favors or money, according to the FBI.

The perpetrator may also threaten to harm the victim's friends or family by using personal information they've hacked into unless the victim complies with their demands, the FBI said.

Streetsboro investigators are working with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Cuyahoga County, which is investigating. ICAC in turn has been talking to the FBI, which may also become involved. The Department of Homeland Security also has reached out, Polivka said.

Polivka said the police department also has been talking to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help in with educational efforts.

"They're going to be in touch with us further in order to help us to to work with the schools on prevention of this type of thing and awareness for children," he said. "Apparently NCMEC has videos, they have aids available, posters, things like that and we're going to be talking with them about getting some of those things into our schools."

Streetsboro residents with a child victimized by sextortion are urged to call the police department at 330-626-4976.

Find more information about suicide and sextortion online

Useful online information includes:

• Suicide contagion — www.headspace.org.au/assets/School-Support/Suicide-contagion-web.pdf

• Sextortion — www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion and https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2021/sextortion-what-parents-should-know.html

How to get help if you feel suicidal or are being coerced

Other sources of help include:

• National Crisis Text Line — www.crisistextline.org to contact a volunteer crisis counselor. Text "HOME" to 741741.

• National Crisis Hotline — Call 988 or text "4HOPE" to the national text line at 741741. A text response back may take five minutes or so.

• The Trevor Project Lifelines — For LGBTQ mental health support at 866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678. This will connect to a Trevor counselor who is understanding of LGBTQ issues and will not judge. All messages are anonymous, and those seeking help can share as much or as little as they like. If there is a wait before a response, a calming exercise to help with breathe and focus. The LGBTQ Resource Center at www.lgbtqresourcecenter.com can also be a useful source of information.

More local sources of help include:

• Coleman Health Services, 5982 Rhodes Road, Kent, 330-673-1347. Provides 24/7 crisis intervention and stabilization and psychiatric help for individuals, children and groups.

• Children’s Advantage, 771 N. Freedom St., Ravenna, 330-296-5552. Provides child/adolescent psychiatry serving individuals, families and groups.

• Townhall II, 155 N. Water St., Kent, 330-678-3006. Has a 24/7 crisis help line for individuals, groups and adolescents.

• Kelly’s Grief Center, 2275 State Route 59, 330-593-5959. Offers individual and group counseling for losses, including from accidents overdose, suicide, murder, and parent and child loss.

Check kids' social media accounts for sextortion, teen's family urges

"Despite the grief taking place," Tuesday's media release said, "the Woods family was very clear in their message that they wanted to communicate: 'Educate! We want to educate families about sextortion, and we want to encourage all families to make sure they are checking their kids’ social media accounts and making sure they are staying safe!'

"In light of this information, and at the request of the family, Streetsboro City Schools and Streetsboro PD will be working collaboratively to create educational opportunities for Streetsboro parents and students about not only sextortion, but other mental health topics pertinent to raising a child in today’s world."

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Suspect sought in sextortion that led to Streetsboro teen's suicide