In 2007, Carly became friends with a musician named Brandon Kane on MySpace. The two initially bonded over their love of music, and soon, Brandon regaled her with stories of growing up in the wide-open spaces of the American Southwest and traveling to other exotic places. Carly hung on to his every word. Carly soon shared with her mother that she’d “met” this awesome guy named Brandon Kane.

Within 18 months, Brandon quickly became Carly’s entire world. Unfortunately, Brandon Kane didn't exist.

The ease with which one online predator was able to groom, lure, and murder fifteen-year-old Carly Ryan in Australia would not only rock the nation but would make headlines globally. It was a horrifying wake-up call. The world suddenly realized that the darling invention of social media had teeth, and it could bite.

Join Jen and Cam as they discuss 'Taking the Bait: The Carly Ryan Story'

If you're worried that your child is being groomed online or sexually exploited, please report it.
USA
call 1-800-843-5678 or go online to Cyber Tipline https://report.cybertip.org
Australia
Call Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestoppers.com.au.
UK
Make a report https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre
or police on 101 or online at www.police.uk


Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from OctoberpodVHS
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of The Inky Paw Print

Sources:
https://www.carlyryanfoundation.com/
https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2017-06-13.185.1
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/the-ex-wife-of-carly-ryans-killer-garry-francis-newman-says-she-suffered-decades-of-abuse-at-his-hands/news-story/a44fffae2985ec53c6a21945358036b0
https://youtu.be/VV43ezxdg5M?si=YwLqursVJ2Ardo3v
https://youtu.be/1co77A5sQG0?si=wfgfABfNZDIgXFoc
https://youtu.be/feSqADrsreU?si=y7Ijd-4BwUwLM2Gc
https://youtu.be/tQ7jQUEHRd0?si=_9c9EglisUADiLBr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Carly_Ryan
https://victimsofhomicide.fandom.com/wiki/Carly_Ryan
https://www.smh.com.au/national/sex-predator-jailed-for-life-20100331-revm.html
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Murder_of_Carly_Ryanhttps://truecrimediva.com/carly-ryan/
https://www.aph.gov.au/-/media/wopapub/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/2010-13/criminal_code_misrepresentation/report/d01.pdf?la=en&hash=133D29B0BFE5FF028A354F2857AB4FB639A8075A
https://www.newspapers.com/image/753739453/?terms=%22Carly%20Ryan%22%20Australia%20murder&match=1 (lots of errors in this article)
https://www.azafap.org/about/https://encyclopediadramatica.online/Garry_Francis_Newman
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/mother-of-murdered-teen-carly-ryan-still-fighting-online-predators/GKDOD2VR536THPXNZQ56HK6I2A/
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1409
https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/f6578188-998f-424eb4ef-/0241%22#:~:text=Stephen%20Newman%20was%20charged%20with,and%20that%20was%20Carly%20Ryan