Hey Steph. Hey Leah. I heard you getting harassed about the basketball story.
Yeah, I just don't like basketball.
You hear this Rory? She said she doesn't like basketball. You used to go to all the games with us.
Yeah, you need to come with us to the game tonight. You are writing a story about them after all.
I can't believe you. We used to have so much fun at the games together.
What else are you gonna be doing tonight?
Texting Dante. I told you I stopped talking to him. Oh, yeah Dante. I haven't heard about him in a while
Where'd he come from? Again? He followed her on Instagram and liked all of her pictures. This guy's gorgeous
Look. I followed him a couple of days ago. You followed him?
Yeah, he liked a bunch of my pictures. You don't even know him
Like that's ever stopped us from following someone. Yeah. What made you stop talking to him?
Um, it's just . . . Hey Rory and Leah. Stephanie needs to work on her article.
Don't you both have things to do as well?
Yeah. Let's get to it then.
Hey mom. Hey, sweetie.
Shouldn't you be gone already?
The cat threw up in the carpet again Oh, can you grab those for me, please?
Thank you. Give me a kiss I gotta go.
Hey Dad.
I wrote an article in our school newspaper. It's about bullying. Want to read it?
Yeah, sounds interesting
Hey! Dad said it's time to come eat. Ever hear of knocking?
Jeez. What's wrong with you?
Get out of my room.
Here's my article. Oh good. I look forward to reading it.
How'd the interview with Johnny go? I decided not to do it.
Okay. Stephanie wait . . . Is everything all right?
I've noticed a change in you over the last month
Yeah
I'm fine
Hey Steph. So how about last night Dante started commenting on a bunch of my pictures?
He did? Yeah, and then he direct messaged me.
What'd he say? Um, you know, we just talked about whatever.
He seems really sweet. Well he isn't.
Sounds like she knows something you don't
Well, jeez don't get mad but I
Gave him my number. I thought I told you not to talk to him.
What's wrong with you? Seriously . . .
Hey Steph, I'm sorry.
I didn't realize Dante meant this much to you.
I don't want to talk about it
What's going on? Something's wrong. I can't . . .
Yes, you can. I'm your best friend. You can tell me anything.
How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to talk about it.
Okay.
Wait.
In school I'm just another kid. At home
I feel like my parents are too busy to even notice me
Then I met Dante. He liked all my pictures. He told me I was beautiful
He made me feel important
It was a mistake Leah. I never should have talked to him.
What'd you do?
I sent him some pictures
Like pictures?
Yeah, I know. I'm an idiot.
He told me I had to send him more pictures doing specific things he wanted or else he'd exposed me.
What? That's terrible. How long has this been going on?
The last month.
It feels like my whole world is just waiting to come crashing down.
I can't even imagine telling my dad.
I don't know what to do.
Well, I think you just took the first step.
You told me right?
Yeah
But now you think I'm a complete idiot.
No!
You're my best friend. I'm gonna help you through this.
What should I do?
I think we need to tell someone. How do you feel about talking to Ms. Spencer?
Right now? Yeah. Let's just take this one step at a time. Okay?
Okay.
But I kind of just want to sit here for a while.
Okay.
Hello?
Okay. Okay. Thank you. We'll be right there.
His name is Matthew Sutherland. He's a 43 year old real estate agent worker from Iowa.
Your daughter is just one of three that he's been extorting for three years.
This is how these guys operate. They blackmail girls and boys for photos and then they use them as a type of online currency
Unfortunately at this point there's no way in telling where your daughter's photos are
But if you'd like we can inform you on their whereabouts or however they're being used whenever we come across them
Mom. Dad.
What are you doing?
Sweetheart. We're so sorry.
We're so sorry.