Cross Lanes, WV – The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suicide of a 15-year-old boy in Cross Lanes after detectives uncovered evidence that he had allegedly been targeted in an online sextortion scheme in the hours leading up to his death.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 911 call on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at about 7:10 p.m. after both parents reported a shooting inside their home on Kelly Road. Deputies found Bryce Tate, a student at Nitro High School, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Detectives recovered Tate’s cellphone and submitted it to the county’s Digital Forensic Lab, where investigators found communication showing he had allegedly been contacted by an unknown online offender beginning at approximately 4:37 p.m. on November 6. Authorities say the conversation continued until just minutes before his death.
Sextortion, officials say, is a form of online exploitation where offenders coerce or manipulate victims into sending sensitive or intimate images—often by pretending to be another teen or by creating fake accounts. Once images are obtained, offenders may demand money or additional photos under threat of publicly releasing the material. Investigators note these schemes often escalate quickly and are designed to create panic among young victims.
Because the communication crossed state and digital boundaries, the case has been adopted by the FBI Pittsburgh office, where the investigation remains active.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to Tate’s family, friends, and the Nitro High School community, urging families to talk with children about online safety and to report suspicious activity immediately.
