Following the tragic loss of his son to suicide resulting from online sextortion, John DeMay has bravely shared his story to raise awareness about this growing threat. In March 2022, 17-year-old Jordan DeMay received a message on Instagram from someone he believed to be a woman. The message, chilling in its simplicity, read: "All you've to do is cooperate with me and I won't expose you." This interaction, orchestrated by a Nigerian man posing as a woman, would ultimately lead to Jordan's death.

"My son was intelligent, a dedicated student, and a gifted athlete," John DeMay shared with Fox News Digital. He described the experience as a "murder through Instagram," emphasizing the insidious nature of online predators and the devastating consequences of their actions.

The individual responsible for Jordan's extortion, 22-year-old Samuel Ogoshi, was one of three suspects apprehended in Lagos for their involvement in hacking Instagram accounts and sextorting over 100 young men. The FBI defines sextortion as a serious crime where sensitive information is leveraged to obtain sexually explicit material or money.

In Jordan's case, the perpetrator operated under the hacked Instagram account "dani.robertts." After Jordan sent an explicit photo, Ogoshi demanded $1,000. Despite Jordan sending $300, the threats continued, ultimately leading to Jordan's tragic decision to end his life.

Meta, Instagram's parent company, issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to online safety for teens and their cooperation with law enforcement to combat sextortion. This tragic event underscores a disturbing trend affecting teenagers across the globe.

John DeMay expressed the difficult balance parents face in monitoring their children's online activity as they approach adulthood, highlighting the subtle nature of these predatory tactics. A 2018 JAMA Pediatrics study revealed the prevalence of sexting among youth, further emphasizing the vulnerability of this age group.

These online predators often create convincing personas, exploiting the desires and interests of their victims. They build trust before manipulating them into sharing explicit content, which is then used for blackmail.

The 2022 film "Sextortion" sheds light on this "hidden pandemic," detailing how groomers manipulate children online. The film features the story of a 14-year-old girl who was targeted by a 30-year-old Navy pilot posing as a teenager.

Experts in the film discuss how predators exploit the developing brains of teenagers, who often struggle to differentiate between online interactions with strangers and friends. They emphasize the importance of parental involvement and law enforcement intervention in stopping these crimes.

John DeMay urges parents and teens to educate themselves about the dangers of sextortion and to have a plan in place should they become victims. He stresses the importance of contacting law enforcement or the FBI immediately. He poignantly reflects on the message he would share with his son if given the chance: that these threats are not the end of their lives.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a significant increase in online enticement reports between 2021 and 2022, highlighting the urgency of this issue. The FBI encourages anyone affected by sextortion to contact their local FBI office or the FBI's toll-free number.