Teen Blackmailed Online Over Sensitive Photos Dies By Suicide

A Michigan teen who died by suicide last week was being extorted online in the hours leading up to his death, authorities said.

Police found Jordan John DeMay dead of "an apparent suicide" at his home in Marquette Township at around 7:40 p.m. Friday, The Kansas City Star reported.

Prior to taking his own life, the 17-year-old Marquette Senior High School student was under "extreme pressure" due to being extorted through Instagram over "sensitive" pictures that he had taken of himself, authorities said.

The perpetrator allegedly demanded money and threatened to share the images with DeMay's friends, family and Instagram followers if he did not pay, according to authorities.

DeMay sent the money, but "it wasn't enough" and the perpetrator "wanted more," Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt was quoted as saying by WLUC-TV.

The teen reportedly ended his life six hours after the blackmail began.

One of DeMay's friends received one of the compromising photos hours after his death. The friend contacted DeMay's parents, who then reached out to investigators.

A police investigation into the incident is still ongoing, but the FBI believes DeMay was possibly a victim of "sextortion."

The online scheme involves a perpetrator posing as a girl on social media with a fake profile, which they use to reach out to boys and ask for explicit pictures or videos, according to Kansas City Star.

Perpetrators record interactions between them and their targets in secret as well. They then use the pictures and videos to blackmail victims, often for money.

"The most effective way to disrupt these criminals is through awareness, education, and having important discussions with your children about their online safety," FBI special agent Wayne Jacobs said in a statement.

Jacobs urged victims to come forward and report these incidents.

"We recognize victims may feel embarrassed and thus hesitant to come forward and report these incidents, but we are strongly encouraging victims to notify us so that these individuals are held to account for their actions and, most importantly, prevented from harming another child," the FBI agent said.

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support DeMay's family has exceeded its initial $2,000 goal and raised more than $18,600 as of writing.

DeMay is survived by his father John DeMay, mother Jennifer Buta as well as his four sisters, Harper DeMay, Vivienne DeMay, Stella Buta and Addison Buta, among other relatives, according to the teen's obituary.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.