‘Catfish’ Predator Sentenced for Life After Driving U.S. Teen to Suicide

A Northern Ireland court has sentenced 26-year-old Alexander McCartney to life in prison for his involvement in a series of severe online exploitation crimes, including actions that led a 12-year-old girl in the United States to take her own life.

McCartney, who impersonated a young girl on social media, manipulated and blackmailed minors globally, primarily using Snapchat to connect with his victims.

Having pleaded guilty to 185 charges affecting 70 children across multiple countries, McCartney will serve a minimum of 20 years before he is eligible for parole. Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan of the Police Service of Northern Ireland described McCartney as a “vile predator” who operated on an “industrial scale.”

EDITOR’S PICKS

• BREAKING: Tinubu Arrives Abuja After Two-Week Working Vacation In UK, France
• NIDCOM Gears Up for 7th Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, Aims to Drive Economic Growth
• BREAKING: APC Sweeps All 23 Chairmanship, 255 Councillorship Seats in Kaduna LG Polls

Corrigan explained that McCartney began his abusive activities as a teenager from his bedroom in Newry, Northern Ireland, calling his actions a “paedophile enterprise.”

Corrigan further remarked on McCartney’s dangerous and relentless nature, stating, “McCartney is a dangerous, relentless, cruel paedophile.”

Among McCartney’s victims was 12-year-old Cimarron Thomas from West Virginia, who died by suicide in 2018 after he coerced her into explicit acts and pressured her to involve her younger sister.

FURTHER READING 

• Protest As Masked Men Attempt To Arrest Labour Party Official In Aba
• 10 Students Injured, 5 on Life Support In Ebonyi Catholic School Gas Explosion
• Hon. Monsuru Akinloyè Ismail Advocates for Full Vaccination in Ongoing Immunization Campaign in Eredo 

Tragically, Cimarron’s father, Ben Thomas, also died by suicide 18 months later. In Belfast Crown Court, McCartney admitted to manslaughter with Cimarron’s death. His additional charges include 59 counts of blackmail, producing and distributing indecent images, and inciting minors to engage in inappropriate acts, with victims across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.

Click here to watch our video of the week

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611