Editor’s note: This story discusses suicide and sexual abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988.
Ohio will criminalize sexual extortion and the grooming of children under legislation approved Wednesday by state lawmakers.
The Ohio House and Senate voted to pass a bill named for Braden Markus , an Olentangy High School student who died by suicide after falling victim to sextortion. House Bill 531 makes sexual extortion a third-degree felony, with harsher penalties if the victims are minors, seniors or people with disabilities.
The measure also aims to make it easier for parents to access their child’s digital assets if they die as a minor − something Braden’s family struggled with after his death.
Sexual extortion occurs when someone blackmails another person over the release of private images. In Braden’s case , someone posing as high school girl on social media asked Braden for intimate photos and then demanded $1,800 so they wouldn’t be published. He killed himself within a half hour of receiving the message.