Online predator whose ‘catfish’ molestation led an American father and daughter to take their own lives in prison

An online predator whose abuse led an American girl and her father to take their own lives has been jailed for at least 20 years in Britain’s biggest “catfishing” case.

Warning: This article contains references to suicide and child sexual abuse that readers may find disturbing.

Alexander McCartney, 26, previously pleaded guilty to 185 chargesincluding the murder of a girl who took her own life.

Belfast Crown Court heard his victims were aged between 10 and 16 and lived in the UK, US, continental Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

McCartney, from south Armagh in Northern Ireland, pretended to be someone else online (called catfishing) – in his case posing as a young girl – to persuade his victims to send him photos. He then blackmailed his victims into sending him more graphic material.

Cimarron Thomas, 12 years old, from West Virginia, USA, she shot herself with her father’s guninstead of complying with his demands. But they had even further tragic consequences for her family.

Unable to come to terms with the loss of his daughter, her father Ben Thomas, a former US Army veteran, died by suicide 18 months later.

McCartney, a former computer science student, pleaded guilty to one count of murder, 59 counts of blackmail and 70 counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Passing sentence, the judge said McCartney began committing crimes at the age of 14.

McCartney ‘totally merciless’

McCartney also pleaded guilty to dozens of charges relating to creating and distributing indecent images of children and came across as “completely ruthless” according to prosecutor’s attorney David McDowell KC.

At an earlier hearing, prosecutors described how McCartney deliberately targeted victims who were gay or exploring their sexuality and “degraded and humiliated them.” The judge described the details of the case as “excruciating.”

Much of what he did is too graphic and disturbing in detail.

McCartney told one girl that if she did not comply, he would send men to her house to rape her. In some cases, he required his victims to involve younger siblings.

She pretended to be “Sarah” to the catfish victim

Posing as “Sarah”, he messaged Cimarron Thomas on her family farm in the small American village of Bruceton and persuaded her to send him a topless photo.

When McCartney revealed that she was not “Sarah”, he demanded more explicit photos and threatened to send them to her father.

When she begged him to stop, he told her to “wipe her eyes” and engage her nine-year-old sister in sexually explicit photos.

The court heard he “counted down” from 20 to zero online, insisting on more photos. Cimarron refused and shot herself.

McCartney’s cynical last message was: “Goodbye and good luck.”

The father couldn’t forgive himself

Her younger sister heard what she thought was a balloon popping, but found Cimarron lying on the floor in her parents’ bedroom.

Cimarron’s father, Ben, could not forgive himself for leaving the gun within reach and taking his own life 18 months later.

Cimarron’s family couldn’t understand why she took her own life until police found an internet chat on McCartney’s computer.

The court has already heard a statement from Cimarron Thomas’ grandparents, which said: “Our lives will never be the same again. We didn’t see her graduate, walk down the aisle, or have children.

“We were robbed of these memories. Our lives have been changed forever.”

Anyone who is feeling emotionally distressed or having suicidal thoughts can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK. In the US, call your local Samaritans branch or 1 (800) 273-TALK.