Ohio lawmakers crack down on sextortion scams after death of high school student

Editor's note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988.

Braden Markus was supposed to graduate from high school this year.

The Olentangy High School running back and linebacker loved sports − football, baseball and wrestling in particular, his mother Jennifer said during a news conference last month. Braden was "ready to take on the world," she said, and he should've been on stage with his classmates, donning a cap and gown.

Instead, it's been nearly three years since Braden died by suicide after falling victim to sextortion. But his family mobilized and channeled their grief into action.

The Ohio House unanimously passed legislation named for Braden on Wednesday that would criminalize sexual extortion, which occurs when someone blackmails another person over the release of private images. In Braden's case, someone contacted him on social media posing to be a high school girl. The person asked Braden for intimate photos and then demanded $1,800 so they wouldn't be published.

Braden killed himself 27 minutes after receiving the first message, his family said. He was among at least 12,600 people − primarily underage boys − that were subjected to online sextortion from October 2021 to March 2023, according to the FBI. At least 20 of them died by suicide, as Braden did.

"It's a testament to Braden's legacy to build a future where no children suffer at the hands of online predators," Jennifer Markus told a crowd gathered at Olentangy High School near Columbus in May.

Sexual extortion would become a third degree felony under the bill approved Wednesday, with harsher penalties if the victims are minors, seniors or people with disabilities. It creates a separate crime of aggravated sexual extortion for incidents that seriously harm the victim or lead to their death. Victims and their families would be eligible for compensation through the attorney general's office.

House Bill 531 also aims to make it easier for parents to access their child's digital assets if they die as a minor. After Braden died, his family could not immediately access his cell phone.

"We want to show evil people that we're not going to tolerate that kind of behavior in Ohio and add some protections and give opportunities for closure and what these families need," Rep. Brian Lorenz, R-Powell, said.

The Ohio Senate must take up House Bill 531 before it heads to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.

Reporter Noah Fishman contributed.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.