Morgan Moore, a mother from El Dorado, Kansas, is grieving the tragic loss of her 14-year-old son, Caleb, who died by suicide after falling victim to online blackmail. In a deeply emotional account, Morgan is now using her heartbreaking experience to warn other parents about the dangers children face on social media.
Caleb had been chatting with someone he believed to be a girl on TikTok. Their conversation, which lasted just 35 minutes, quickly moved to Snapchat. The individual sent Caleb compromising images, prompting him to send similar photos in return. However, the situation soon turned threatening.
The person began blackmailing Caleb, demanding large sums of money in exchange for not leaking the explicit photos he had sent. Overwhelmed with fear and shame, Caleb believed his life was ruined. Morgan said the scammer “made him feel like his life was over for making a mistake.”
In desperation, Caleb ended his life using the family’s firearm. His mother, Morgan, received a call from her husband and rushed home, only to be told she could not enter the house. Despite efforts to resuscitate Caleb, nothing worked, and he died at home.
Morgan described the horrifying experience of being unable to be by her son’s side in his final moments. “I was hysterical and screaming,” she said, heartbroken by the feeling of helplessness as she begged authorities to let her see him one last time.
At first, the family had no idea why Caleb had taken such a drastic step. It was only after police examined his phone that they discovered he had been a victim of what’s known as “s**tortion”—a form of blackmail involving intimate images.
The FBI has since warned of a growing trend in such cases, with criminals often threatening children from the outset or manipulating them into sending more explicit content. Many victims are too afraid or ashamed to seek help in time.
Morgan now shares her story to encourage open conversations between parents and children. She stresses the importance of discussing online safety, recognizing red flags, and letting kids know they can always come to their parents—no matter what.
