The mother of a 14-year-old who died by suicide claims he was the victim of a “sextortion” scam that took place online.
Every parent worries about their child navigating the unpredictable world of the internet. Most try to stay informed keeping an eye on what websites their kids visit, which apps they’ve downloaded, and what social media platforms they’re using. Some go even further, closely monitoring online activity to protect their children from digital dangers.
But even the most vigilant parents can’t be everywhere at once. Children and teens are vulnerable to harmful viral trends, online predators, and scammers.
Caleb Morgan’s mother learned this in the most devastating way.
On June 10, Caleb just a teenager from El Dorado, Kansas began chatting on TikTok with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The conversation quickly moved to Snapchat.
According to the Daily Mail, Caleb’s mother, Morgan, said the person began by sending him inappropriate images and encouraged him to send photos of himself in return.
That’s when things took a dark turn.
The person then began extorting Caleb threatening to leak the images unless he paid a large sum of money. His mother believes the manipulator made Caleb feel hopeless and ashamed, as though his life was already ruined.
Overwhelmed, Caleb took his own life by shooting himself at home.
His father called Morgan to deliver the crushing news.
“When I got there, Caleb was still breathing,” she said, “but they couldn’t revive him. Eventually, they had to stop… nothing was working.”
“He passed away inside the house, and it was unbearable,” Caleb’s mother recalled. “I wanted to be with him, but they wouldn’t let me in. They didn’t want me to see what had happened.”
“I was screaming, begging them not to give up on my boy. I was hysterical completely inconsolable.”
At first, Caleb’s suicide was a heartbreaking mystery for his parents. But when the El Dorado Police Department searched his phone, the horrifying truth began to emerge.
“They went through his TikTok messages and showed me how it all unfolded,” Morgan said. “In just 35 minutes, this person stole my son’s happiness… his hope.”
According to Morgan, Caleb even sent a photo of the gun to the blackmailer an act of desperation in a moment of fear and shame.
The FBI defines this kind of manipulation as “sextortion” a form of online blackmail where criminals exploit victims using sexually explicit images to demand money or more photos.
“In some cases,” the FBI explains, “the first message from the predator is already a threat. They may claim to have revealing content and threaten to share it unless the victim sends more.”
