Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Braden Markus’ name.
An Upper Arlington man and former Ohio State University professor charged with killing his wife before stabbing himself told police he did so because he was being extorted by what he believed was a woman he had sent nudes to on a dating app.
Experts say “sextortion” cases like this are a growing problem in the United States. It has been implicated in several high-profile suicides of teens, though in those cases sextortion victims have not attempted to harm anyone but themselves. In 2021, Olentangy River High School student Braden Markus died by suicide after falling victim to a similar scam.
In the Upper Arlington case, 76-year-old James S. Hill — who worked as a music professor at Ohio State from 1978 to 2015, according to university spokesperson Ben Johnson — is charged with aggravated murder in the stabbing death of his wife, 64-year-old Mary Kathleen Hill. He told police he sent nude photos to a woman on a dating app, and on Nov. 9, the person behind the account demanded $15,000 or she would release the photos.
Police have not said whether Hill made the payment, and police have not said whether they believe their investigation will uncover the person behind the scam.
What is sextortion?
During a sextortion scam, criminals often “catfish” their victims, posing as an attractive potential romantic partner to convince them to send nude images.
Once the scammers receive those images, they threaten to send them to family, friends and even employers if their target doesn’t send money.
John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumer League, said that in more typical cases, scammers convince their targets that they have hacked their computer or security system to obtain inappropriate images or videos of them.
The scammers may not actually have any footage, Breyault said. They only need to convince their victims that they do.
“The goal in all cases is to induce fear and shame and get the victim to pay,” Breyault said.
Breyault said no one group or demographic is particularly vulnerable to sextortion, though people have particular concerns about scammers targeting children and teens.
Several high-profile suicides by teenagers have spurred worry about the crime trend, including Braden and the death of another Ohio teen in 2023. Some criminals have been known to intentionally target children, like 764, an online nihilistic extremist group known for extorting children as young as nine.
Is sextortion on the rise?
Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center showed a 59% increase in extortion and sextortion reports from 2023 to 2024 in the center’s 2024 annual report, the most recent available.
Breyault said these figures don’t show the full extent of the problem. Many victims don’t report the crimes. He said shame is a primary reason all types of fraud go underreported, and this concern is heightened in cases of sextortion.
Scams overall are on the rise, Breyault said, because it’s easier than ever to send money online instantly, anonymously and irreversibly. Once a target sends money through gift cards or cryptocurrency, they usually can’t get those funds back.
There are also more people active online than ever before since the pandemic, widening the pool of potential targets, Breyault said.
Scammers have also become more effective by using AI, Breyault said. People operating from overseas who do not speak English well can more easily pose as someone from the U.S. if they use AI to generate realistic chats, emails or texts.
What to do if you’re being sextorted
Breyault said the first thing victims should do is cut off contact with the person extorting them. He said that can be easier said than done, because online predators often seek out multiple ways to contact their targets.
People should not send any money to the scammer, Breyault said.
“Sending money to the predator rarely stops this kind of blackmail or harassment,” Breyault said. “The goal of scammers is to get as much money as they can out of you until you either stop sending money or run out of money.”
Breyault said victims of sextortion scams should instead report the crimes to police and understand that they are victims, especially if they are children.
“It’s important to know that you’re not alone,” Breyault said. “There are adults and law enforcement officials out there who recognize this for the crime it is and can help you.”
Braden’s Law
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Braden’s Law in April 2024. The law was named for the 15-year-old Braden Markus, an Olentangy High School student who died by suicide after a scammer posing as a teen girl tricked him into sending nude images, then demanded $1,800 not to release the images.
Braden died Oct. 17, 2021, killing himself less than 30 minutes after the predator contacted him.
Under Braden’s Law, sextortion is a third-degree felony in Ohio. If the victim is a minor, an elder or disabled, sextortion is a first-degree felony. His family advocated for the law and founded the Braden Markus Foundation, a nonprofit that educates people about sextortion and offers scholarships in Braden’s honor.
Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can call or text the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or 800-273-8255 any time day or night, or chat online at https://988lifeline.org/chat/.
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-Ohio State professor charged in wife’s death blames sextortion, a shaming crime on the rise
Reporting by Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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