Mich. Teen Admits Convincing 15-Year-Old to Die by Suicide After Meeting in Online Gaming Community

The unnamed teenage suspect pleaded guilty to aiding suicide and harassment causing death

A Michigan teenager will spend the next two years on probation after admitting last week to convincing a Texas boy he met in an online gaming community to die by suicide, prosecutors said.

As part of a plea deal, the unnamed suspect pleaded guilty on Dec. 7 in Montgomery County, Texas, court to aiding suicide and harassment causing death, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office.

The juvenile victim, whose identity also hasn’t been shared due to his age, died by suicide this past January in Montgomery County, an area located north of Houston, prosecutors said. According to police, the 15-year-old victim shot himself in the head and was found wearing a gaming headset, KHOU 11, Fox 2 Detroit, and Michigan Live report.

A subsequent investigation launched by the Montgomery County Constable Precinct 3 revealed that the suspect and victim were part of an online gaming community and instant messaging platform known as Discord, the release states. Prosecutors said the suspect had “instructed” and “harassed” the victim to die by suicide.

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Montgomery County prosecutor Stuart Hughes told KHOU 11 that interviews with members of an online gaming community that spanned across multiple states led authorities to the then 16-year-old suspect, who lived more than 1,000 miles away in Allen Park, Mich.

"I think some of the ramifications that kids don't understand is that there is someone on the other end of the phone," Lt. Ken Washington, a public information officer with Montgomery County Precinct 3, told Fox 2 Detroit.

Prosecutors said in the release that the teen suspect will remain on probation until the age of 18. A suicide awareness program, a psycho-social evaluation, no online gaming or equipment with internet connection and no firearms are among the terms he was ordered to follow.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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