On a Thursday afternoon, Bryce Tate heads to the gym after school as usual.

During his workout, Bryce receives a text from an unsaved number. The texter claims she’s a junior at another high school is close by and has seen Bryce at the gym before.

The unknown texter tells Bryce she knows some of his friends, who tell her about his impressive basketball skills, and she wants to introduce herself. The teens flirt back and forth all afternoon.

Bryce comes home from the gym in a great mood, still engrossed in his text conversation with the pretty stranger. Bryce is thrilled that it's taco night and happily chats with his parents at the dinner table.

After clearing the table, Bryce heads outside to shoot some hoops, but he’s very distracted by his new friend.

Just after 7 p.m., Amanda and Adam Tate are shocked by the sound of a gunshot and rush into Adam’s man cave. Their happy teenager shot himself. The hysterical parents called 911, but Bryce was gone the moment he pulled the trigger. What no one understands is why Bryce would take his own life.

In the 20 minutes before taking his own life, Bryce receives 120 text messages. The messages reveal that Bryce offers the only money he has access to $30. But it isn’t enough.

Joining Nancy Grace:

• Jennifer Buta - Mother to Jordan DeMay, Victim of Sextortion
• Joe Cunningham - Attorney who Specializes in Sextortion Cases (previously represented the family of Timothy Barnett, a 13 yr-old victim of sextortion); Facebook and Instagram: JoeCunninghamLaw
• Melissa McCarty- Investigative Journalist, Author of “The Confident Voice: Speak with Calm, Clarity and Connection" and "The Making of a Crime Reporter;" Instagram: MelissaMcCarty1
• Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology;" X: @TrialDoc
• Todd Shipley - Digital Cyber-Crime Expert, Former Detective Sergeant with the Reno, Nevada Police Dept. - with 25 year in law enforcement, Author of: "Surviving a Cyberattack: Securing Social Media and Protecting Your Home" and “Investigating Internet Crimes: An Introduction to solving Crimes in Cyberspace;" X @webcase
• Titania Jordan - Chief Parent Officer, Bark Parental Controls, Author: "Parenting In A Tech World;" Instagram/X: @TitaniaJordan
• Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' 

 

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