ENCORE: Walker's Story: Social Media and Teen Sextortion with Brian Montgomery
Author: Host: Melanie Hempe
Jul 23, 2025
In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Melanie is joined by Brian Montgomery—a devoted husband and father of four—who bravely shares the heartbreaking story of his son, Walker. Walker tragically lost his life to the devastating effects of sextortion on Instagram, and Brian’s raw transparency is a courageous gift that offers hope and awareness to families everywhere.
Through this emotional conversation, Brian reflects on the painful lessons learned and offers critical insights every parent needs to hear. His mission is clear: to prevent other families from experiencing the same unimaginable loss. Join us as we honor Walker’s memory and uncover essential truths that can help protect our children in today’s digital world.
Summary of the Substack article “No Child Is Immune From Sextortion—Even Yours” by Melanie Hempe:
The piece opens with the gut-wrenching story of 16‑year‑old Walker Montgomery, a teen who tragically took his own life after being targeted in a sextortion scheme—highlighting that no family is impervious to this crisis. The article reveals that roughly 1 in 20 children are affected by sextortion, a statistic that captures both the scale and pervasiveness of the problem.
Walker’s case illustrates how predators use emotional manipulation to coerce young teens into sharing explicit images, then demand money or further content under threat of exposure. The psychological toll can be devastating, and in rare cases, like Walker’s, result in tragedy. While his story is deeply personal, it reflects broader trends confirming that organized gangs—often based in West Africa and Southeast Asia—are increasingly behind these scams targeting minors
