Kentucky teen's death leads push for tougher sextortion laws nationwide

Kentucky teen's death leads push for tougher sextortion laws nationwide

Elijah Heacock, 16, took his own life Feb. 28. His mother said after his death, detectives found threatening messages on his phone.

Guthrie remembers local teen, speaks out against sextortion - WNKY News 40 Television

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The tragic case of Hart County’s Elijah Heacock was remembered last week as Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie spoke out against online sextortion. Guthrie is a chairman on the Energy and Commerce Committee and spoke out at a hearing aimed to examine online dangers. Guthrie shared that he spoke with to the mother of Elijah Heacock, a 16-year-old who tragically took his own life after falling victim to an online sextortion scheme…

Video Shared by Heartbeat of Hardin County Highlights Danger of Teen Sextortion Cases

Heartbeat of Hardin County has shared a powerful and emotional video on its Facebook page, highlighting the tragic story of a young man who fell victim to financial sextortion. Executive Director Julie Zaring says this disturbing crime is happening to kids here as well, with offenders targeting local youth through online platforms and gaming systems. Parents and caregivers are urged to take just four minutes to watch the video and become informe…

North Iowa Law Enforcement Warns of Sextortion Scheme Aimed at Teens - KCHA NEWS - Charles City's News, Weather & Sports

Authorities in North Iowa are alerting parents and teenagers of sextortion schemers targeting teens. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office (CGCSO) says they have received similar reports of online harassment …

Barren County teen’s death highlights growing sextortion threat

By GAGE WILSON For Glasgow News 1 In an era where being online is essential to daily life, cybersecurity threats have become a dire concern, particularly for teenagers. With the recent adoption of Senate Bill 73, lawmakers have recognized the urgent need for stronger protections for the internet’s most vulnerable users. The bill seeks to combat online exploitation, including sextortion, by mandating better security measures from internet provide…

Online Harassment Targeted by Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving reports of online harassment involving teenagers in the county. According to the office, a teenage victim is coerced into sending nude photos of themselves to a suspect after they have been communicating online via social media apps. After the victim has sent the photos, the suspect demands the teenager provide gift card information or the suspect will post the pictures online and in soc…