COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio lawmakers have proposed Braden’s Law, named after a 15-year-old victim of a sextortion scam who tragically took his own life. Braden Markus was targeted by a predator on Instagram who demanded money in exchange for not releasing compromising material.
The bill aims to increase penalties for sextortion crimes and ensure quicker digital access for parents of deceased minors to prevent similar tragedies. If passed, Braden’s Law would make sextortion a felony in Ohio and mandate companies to provide parents access to their children’s digital records within 30 days of their deaths. The proposed law is a response to the alarming rise in sextortion cases involving minors, aiming to raise awareness and accountability while honoring Braden’s memory.
