After the chat, the woman said it was James’ turn, and he reciprocated. Their conversation turned sexual and the woman asked James if he wanted to see her naked in a video chat. “We’ll talk more about this when you get home.” “Baby, I’m so proud of you,” Tamia told him. James went off to learn about the 20 colleges at the fair, and Tamia headed to brunch with her aunt and cousin.Ībout 1:30 p.m., James called Tamia and said he had talked to three colleges he now considered at the top of his list – Central State University, Fisk University and Howard University.

She said James laughed and danced with his friends, though she did notice he appeared to be on his phone a lot. 19, Tamia went with James to a college fair. James, who was nearly halfway through his senior year by November, hoped to run in college and had in mind a career in law or law enforcement.

“He could light up a room,” said Daulbaugh, who has led the school district since 2013. Streetsboro Superintendent Mike Daulbaugh said James was a great kid and a stellar athlete who was known for his infectious smile. They already had tickets for Dream Con, the comic book festival in July in Austin, Texas. The family enjoyed traveling and helped organize trips once a year for James and his closest friends. I never want another mom to feel the hurt I feel.' Asked why she and her husband have been so open about their son’s death, Tamia said simply: “Because of fear. Tamia, 39, a clinical specialty representative for the Mayo Clinic, is pleased the word is spreading. One of the victims told a school official he knew what happened to James. Since James’ death, three other Streetsboro students have reported being victims of sextortion. The FBI said more than a dozen sextortion victims have died by suicide. The FBI issued public safety alerts about sextortion in December and again in mid-January, saying law enforcement agencies had received more than 7,000 reports in the past year about the online extortion of at least 3,000 young people, most of them with boys. This is, after all, a problem that extends way beyond Streetsboro.Īlert Feds cite 'explosion' in child sextortion cases, FBI, DHS issue national public safety alert The parents also are supporting state legislation that would require parental consent for children 16 and younger to use social media.

They have spoken to numerous groups and Northeast Ohio schools and will be the featured speakers at a Mental Health and Safety Forum on May 10 at Streetsboro High School. In the five months since James’ death, the Woods started the Do It for James Foundation and created tip cards with information on what young people can do if they fall prey to sextortion. James died by suicide in November after he became a victim of sextortion. Tamia Woods is reflected in a portrait of her 17-year-old son, James, in Streetsboro.

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