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VIBRANT, cheerful, and well-liked, Jordan DeMay had a promising future ahead of him when he received a seemingly harmless message from an attractive girl on Instagram late one night.
Just six hours later, he took his own life. In mere moments, the 17-year-old’s world was brutally shattered by a blackmail ring located thousands of miles away, who chillingly threatened him: “I will watch you die a miserable death.”
Jennifer Buta recounts how her son died in his bedroom six hours after receiving an Instagram DMCredit: Supplied
Jordan DeMay was only 17 when he took his own lifeCredit: Supplied
The talented schoolboy, pictured as a child with his mother, had his whole life ahead of himCredit: Supplied
Jordan, a budding sports star applying for college basketball scholarships, is among the many young men who have tragically taken their own lives after being targeted by a network of Nigerian sextortion scammers.
These heartless fraudsters meticulously research their victims before coercing them into paying thousands of pounds, often flaunting the spoils of their scams in shameless posts.
Jordan’s devastated mother, Jennifer Buta, tells The Sun: “What transpired in just six hours that night shattered my family’s world.
“At that moment, I had no idea these gangs targeted teenagers or could even access our children. I can almost guarantee that most parents reading this are unaware as well.
“Now it’s my responsibility to share Jordan’s story to prevent other teenagers from facing the same fate.
“If you believe these scammers only send emails from so-called African princes offering you billions, please reconsider.
“These gangs utilize the latest technology, and if they don’t receive money, they actually incite kids to take their own lives.
“Your teenager could be a target right now, and you might not even know it. If that doesn’t frighten you, I don’t know what will.”
Jennifer, who now shares her son’s story with students in schools to raise awareness about these vile scams, adds: “There are days I wake up and for a brief moment think Jordan is just asleep in his room. Then reality crashes down on me.
“The grief of losing a child in this manner never dissipates. No parent should have to bury their teenage child. I don’t want this to happen to any other family.”
Jennifer, a mother of three, 45 years old, who resides in Marquette, describes Jordan as a typical teenager who loved basketball, had been selected for the Boys’ Varsity team, and had a large circle of friends.
“He wasn’t depressed. He was applying for college scholarships and was an extraordinary athlete. He was joyful and full of life,” she recalls.
In March 2022, Jordan was spending the night at his father’s house, and just before Jennifer went to bed at 9 PM, she sent him a goodnight text.
Jennifer has preserved Jordan’s bedroom just as he left itCredit: Jennifer Buta/Demay Family
Jordan was a typical teenager with a passion for basketballCredit: Jennifer Buta/Demay Family
“The next morning, the first message I saw was from Jordan,” she says. “He had sent it at 3:41 AM saying, ‘Mum, I love you.’
“Initially, I didn’t think the timing was unusual.”
Jennifer, a former government employee, wasn’t overly concerned about the timing of the text, describing Jordan as a “bit of a night owl” who would often stay up to listen to music or watch sports.
“I typed ‘Good morning,’ but as I pressed send, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong,” she says.
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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