By Christine Price
Columnist
Amidst all the stress, anxiety, craziness and bad news, my goal is to spotlight and share the good news in our community.
Full disclosure: Good News Happens is meant to leave you smiling.
This week, however, I attended a program called “Protecting our Children from Online Threats,” and it stopped me in my tracks. It was powerful, eye-opening and carried a message every parent and community member needs to hear.
So, today’s column takes a slightly different path, but one I believe is extremely important.
The program was presented by Women United and United Way of Lake County and sponsored by the Lake County ADAMHS Board.
Panelists included Emily Fagan-Zirm, of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and Officer Dan Radigan of the Mentor Police Department. Tim and Tamia Woods of the Do It for James Foundation were the featured speakers.
Tim began by talking about his son, James. He loved him from the very first moment he saw him. James was smart and athletic. He began playing chess with his father at the age of 5 – and he was very good. It wasn’t long before he played multiple games simultaneously – and winning.
James was always laughing and smiling. Everyone liked him. He was popular, compassionate and always willing to help others. He truly had a heart of gold. This 17-year-old Streetsboro High School track star was, by all accounts, an all-around great kid.
James’s story is one that is difficult to hear – but critically important to share.
He was targeted by an online predator who posed as someone his own age, a 19-year-old woman. They struck up a conversation and began direct messaging on Instagram. After gaining his trust, she manipulated him and they exchanged explicit photos of each other – something no teenager is prepared to navigate.
James became a victim of sextortion, a crime in which someone blackmails a person for money by threatening to reveal private or sensitive pictures.
What followed was relentless. Over the course of 19-and-a-half hours, James received more than 200 messages. The tone quickly shifted from friendly to threatening.
He was harassed, intimidated and told his life would be ruined. The person on the other end threatened to send the images to his family and friends unless he paid money and then demanded more.
They preyed on his fear, his embarrassment and his sense of isolation. In a matter of hours, James was made to feel trapped, ashamed and without options. The pressure and emotional torment became overwhelming, ultimately leading him to believe there was no way out.
He took his life.
James is not an isolated case. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported nearly 27,000 cases of financial sextortion in 2023 and nearly 100 reports a day in 2024.
One message came through loud and clear from every speaker: communication is everything.
Emily emphasized the importance of creating an open and honest dialogue with your child. Let them know, “I am her for you – no matter what.” Don’t wait for a problem to arise. Ask questions. Start conversations. Even something as simple as asking if they’ve heard of online extortion can open the door to an important discussion.
Timia reinforced that children need to know they can turn to a trusted adult when something doesn’t feel right. That might be a parent, teacher, coach or mentor – someone who will listen without judgment and help them feel safe. Having that circle of trust in place before it’s needed can make all the difference.
Officer Dan Ranigan echoed these thoughts and added an important reminder: never underestimate how technically savvy children are today.
He stressed the importance of staying involved and engaged in their digital lives. And perhaps most importantly, he reminded parents that while friendship is valuable, what children truly need is a parent – someone who sets boundaries, provides guidance and isn’t afraid to have the hard conversations.
The importance of reporting all incidents involving a child being victimized to law enforcement is paramount.
Artificial intelligence has added a new and alarming layer to online threats. Images can now be generated or manipulated from something as simple as a profile picture and then used to exploit or extort a child. That’s why conversations about Internet safety need to start early – as soon as a child is using a tablet or device.
Popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram and gaming sites such as Roblox, Fortnight and Minecraft can all be places where predators attempt to connect with children.
Awareness and early education are key to helping keep them safe.
Tim and Tamia’s mission is to prevent what has happen to their son from happening to anyone else.
The James T. Woods Act is advancing in the 2025-2026 Congress. The bill would make it a federal crime to threaten to distribute child sexual abuse material to coerce or extort minors. It addresses what many call a “silent crime,” where perpetrators threaten to release private images unless victims provide more material, money or favors.
The act also increases maximum prison terms for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children and establishes stronger penalties, more specific penalties for these crimes.
Championed by Tim and Tamia, the bill gained bipartisan support and has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, moving it closer to the Senate floor.
It takes a village to raise a child, and there is help and support available.
To learn more about Tim, Tamia and James’ story and to find additional resources, visit www.letsdifj.org.
Another excellent resource is Internet Crimes Against Children at www.icactaskforce.org/internetsafety.
You can also find additional resources on the United Way of Lake County’s website www.uwlc.org/help-resources.
If there’s one takeaway from this week, it’s this: don’t look away from the hard conversations. Lean into them. Talk with your children. Stay curious, stay involved and stay connected. Because sometimes the best kind of good news is knowing we have the power to make a difference in the lives of those we love most.
When you see good news and you will, please let me know. I would love to share it. Please include your name, phone number, city you live in and email.
