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If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text “Hopeline” to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
KRONENWETTER – Luke Bird entered his stepson Bradyn Bohn’s room around 10:30 p.m. on March 4 to bid him goodnight. Inside, he found a typical teenage scene—15-year-old Bohn chatting with his girlfriend on FaceTime, a nightly ritual that brought them comfort as they drifted off to sleep.
A winter storm howled outside, adding to the excitement as they awaited a potential snow day announcement for Wednesday.
Earlier that day, Bohn’s mother, Brittney Bird, let him spend time at her hair salon while she worked on a friend’s hair. The boys were enthusiastic, filled with plans for their anticipated snow day, laughing and joking without a hint of trouble, as Brittney later recalled.
However, within a day, Brittney faced an unimaginable heartache when she discovered her son’s lifeless body, leaving behind a chilling note addressed to her husband: “Make sure he gets caught. I’m so sorry.” Bohn had taken his own life.
The Shock of Loss
The sudden tragedy left friends and family grappling for answers, as none could comprehend why Bohn, who appeared happy and fulfilled, would make such a choice. With no prior indications of mental health issues, he was known for his love of sports, particularly baseball and wrestling, and had dreams of skiing and attending summer concerts.
Brittney struggled with lingering questions about their last conversations, particularly one in October centered on mental health following a friend’s recent loss to suicide. In that moment, Bohn had been reassured, saying, “Mom, I would never do that.”
Bohn’s death is emblematic of a harrowing trend impacting children today. His case underscores a rise in online scams, particularly sextortion, which the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have warned about as a growing concern among youth across North America.
Sextortion involves manipulating children into compromising situations, often by coercing them into sending explicit images, only to threaten to disseminate these if the child does not meet further demands, which can include money or additional explicit content.
Statistically, teenage boys aged 14 to 17 comprise the majority of sextortion victims, as highlighted by a June 2024 report from the nonprofit Thorn in collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
“These offenders target kids who have everything to lose,” observed Brittney. “They often seek out successful, active adolescents applying for colleges or involved in relationships.”
Reported instances of online enticement have surged by more than 300% from 2021 to 2023, as evidenced by statistics from the CyberTipline, which processed over 186,800 reports in 2023 alone.
By 2024, reports had skyrocketed to over 540,000, marking a 190% increase, according to Kathryn Rifenbark, director of the CyberTipline.
Tragically, sextortion schemes have resulted in at least 30 recorded suicides, based on investigations by media outlets like USA Today.
Reporting from the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force highlighted 103 cybertips regarding sextortion in just the first quarter of 2025, suggesting that these incidents are escalating rapidly.
“Often, these encounters happen late at night when parents are unaware, leaving children feeling isolated without support,” Rifenbark noted. “Offenders strategically work to cut off any support systems.”
The Mechanics of Exploitation
Brittney was not familiar with the term “sexploitation” until she delved into the alarming realities surrounding her son’s death. She learned that perpetrators frequently begin their schemes by manipulating young girls into sending explicit pictures before shifting their focus to boys like Bradyn.
Some offenders utilize deepfake technology or other AI means to create content designed to entrap their targets, making their scams appear more credible.
They construct fake profiles across social media, including Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, often saturating a child’s network with friend requests to foster a false sense of connection and trust.
According to Thorn’s findings, these platforms are commonly used to initiate contact, making it easy for perpetrators to gain the upper hand.
Around 65% of children who engage with these offenders are encouraged to shift to less secure communication channels such as WhatsApp or Telegram, which lack robust privacy features.
In Bradyn’s case, after initial contact via Facebook, he moved to Telegram, where the situation spiraled as he was blackmailed to send money after sharing images.
The manipulative tactics used by scammers include false legal threats, insisting that the child broke laws and may face consequences if they don’t comply. A countdown is often part of this pressure strategy, creating a sense of urgency to act.
Feeling cornered, Bohn sent $300 through a payment platform, but the threats intensified. After hours of torment, he took his life.
“My son endured immense emotional and psychological suffering for hours,” lamented Brittney.
Community Response and Action
In the wake of Bohn’s death, the Wausau community has rallied to raise awareness about the severe ramifications of such scams. The DC Everest School District is taking proactive steps to educate parents, faculty, and students about online safety.
Brittney’s experience has prompted difficult conversations within the school community, as mental health professionals recognize the critical need for open discussions on these topics.
Superintendent Casey Nye has emphasized that navigating these discussions is essential for creating an environment where children feel safe to speak openly without fear of judgment or punishment.
Digital citizenship skills are being integrated into the district’s educational framework, focusing on fostering awareness about online behavior among students beginning in elementary school.
As students progress through the grades, the complexity of discussions increases, addressing potential risks such as cybercrime, sexting, and identity theft.
The tragedy of Bradyn Bohn’s death has drawn community leaders, including Rep. Patrick Snyder, into action, as he advocates for stronger legal penalties surrounding cybercrimes.
“We need to explicitly address emerging threats, like sextortion,” emphasized Nye.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers resources such as the online safety program NetSmartz, which provides families and educators with material aimed at increasing online security for children.
A forthcoming community event on April 30 at the Grand Theater in Wausau will focus on sextortion awareness and prevention, featuring guest speakers with personal experiences, including those affected by similar tragedies. The goal is to eliminate the stigma surrounding these discussions.
“The conversations within our community are becoming more frequent, which is vital for guiding our children,” remarked Erin Jacobson, the district’s mental health navigator. “Children need to hear conversations from adults so they feel empowered to seek support.”
Legislative Efforts: Bradyn’s Law
Rep. Snyder voiced his astonishment at the shockwaves from Bohn’s death, highlighting the normalcy of his life prior to the tragedy.
“This was a child who seemed well-adjusted. He couldn’t fathom the pain that would come from revealing this situation to his family or friends, and that led him down a tragic path,” Snyder reflected.
Snyder has been in touch with Bohn’s family, particularly in discussing legislative measures to raise awareness and increase penalties for those who exploit children. Thus far, ideas are solidifying around a bill intended to establish stricter consequences for sextortion, which could be named “Bradyn’s Law” in his honor.
“This tragedy could yield positive change, as we aim to implement measures that prevent other families from experiencing similar pain,” Snyder stated, hopeful for proactive legislative adjustments.
Reflecting on her son’s aspirations, Brittney shares dreams of his adventurous spirit in skiing, playing sports at a collegiate level, and building a family of his own.
In hindsight, Brittney reflects on their household rule of limiting phone use overnight and questions her decision to relax that guideline as Bohn entered high school. She acknowledges the challenges adolescents face in controlling impulses and making decisions, which compels her to advocate for open conversations about these issues.
As the landscape of digital threats evolves, Rifenbark advocates for providing boys and young men with the resources to navigate their experiences effectively, emphasizing the importance of dialogue around male victims of exploitation.
Ultimately, it falls upon parents to broach these sensitive issues, creating an environment where children feel secure discussing their fears and mistakes openly.
If you or someone you know has information on potential child exploitation, you can report it to NCMEC online at https://report.cybertip.org/ or by calling 1-800-843-5678. Reports can also be made through Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO), a 24/7 statewide confidential reporting system run by DOJ’s Office of School Safety. Reports can be made online at https://speakup.widoj.gov/, by calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1, or by texting “SUSO” to 738477.
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