Online killer ‘stole our niece’

WARNING: This article contains disturbing details involving extreme child abuse, suicide, and strong language.

Cimarron Thomas was just 12 years old in 2018 when she used her father’s pistol to kill herself.

Hailing from West Virginia, USA, she plays the violin, loves elephants and chatting with friends on Snapchat and is looking forward to her 13th birthday.

But was sexually abused and blackmailed online by a student from Northern Ireland, described as the UK’s best catfisher.

Alexander McCartney, 26, from the suburb of Newry, County Armagh, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison for the manslaughter of Cimarron and the extreme sexual exploitation of other young girls.

In a tragic turn of events, Cimarron’s father, Ben, a U.S. Army veteran, took his own life 18 months later. He did not know about his daughter’s abuse or why she took her own life.

Cimarron’s grandparents, Peggy and Dale Thomas, detailed their pain in victim impact statements read in court.

“Our lives will never be the same again,” they said.

“We didn’t get to see her graduate, walk down the aisle or have children.

“We were robbed and our lives were changed forever.”

Cimarron Thomas lives with his mother, father and siblings.

They are a normal American family but in 2018, a predator is about to bring destruction to their lives.

Using a fake persona, McCartney contacted her online, complimented her appearance and began grooming her before she sent him an intimate photo.

The court heard that during the first abusive interaction, he kept her online for an hour and 45 minutes, demanding sexually explicit and degrading images.

He told her if she didn’t send him more pictures he would post the ones he already had on the internet.

Cimarron returned to school and told no one about the abuse.

McCartney continued to pursue Cimarron and contacted her four days later using another fake account saying: “I want to play one more time.”

Despite pleading with McCartney to stop and appearing visibly upset, he told her to “dry her eyes” and enticed her 9-year-old sister into a sexual act.

Cimarron refused, saying she would rather commit suicide.

McCartney then set a countdown timer, telling her “goodbye and good luck”.

Three minutes later, Cimarron was found by her nine-year-old sister, who entered the room after thinking she heard a bubble pop.

She shot herself in the head with a gun legally owned by her family.

Cimarron was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Police released the family’s 911 call for help.

On that fateful day in May 2018, Cimarron’s 9-year-old sister found her lying on her parents’ bedroom floor with a gun next to her.

Her family did not know why she committed suicide and did not know about the ordeal she endured.

Her mother, Stephanie, told investigators she may have been unsure of her gender. Eighteen months later, Cimarron’s father took his own life.

However, years later, the truth behind what happened to Cimarron became clear.

Cimarron’s grandparents, Peggy and Dale, took part in an upcoming BBC documentary about McCartney, where they remembered their granddaughter but spoke about their heartbreak.

They hope that raising awareness of what they went through will prevent other families from having to endure the same ordeal.

McCartney first appeared in court in Northern Ireland at the end of July 2019.

Police believe he targeted 3,500 children on 64 devices between 2013 and 2019.

The court held that the harm caused by McCartney was “incalculable” and that he had “degraded and humiliated” his victims for his own sexual gratification.

Many of his child victims were never identified, but all of their lives were changed forever.

Then in April 2021, shortly before McCartney was arraigned on several charges related to the case, investigators discovered what happened to Cimarron.

In what was understood to be a legal first, he was charged with Cimarron manslaughter to which he pleaded guilty.

McCartney eventually admitted around 185 charges relating to around 70 child victims – aged between 10 and 16.

The Crown Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland has introduced these charges as model charges for an indictment that can be administered by a court.

The court heard about the impact that McCartney’s abuse had on his young victims – some of whom said they suffered flashbacks, shame, hair loss and other trust issues.

Other girls now feel numb when touched by any man; that their childhood had been stolen and some were suicidal.

McCartney’s litany of crimes spans continents.

BBC News NI spoke to a man from New Zealand, we’ll call him Stephen (not his real name), about the abuse his two daughters suffered after McCartney caused a violent incident. onion. friendship with his oldest daughter, then 12 years old, on Snapchat.

The girl, whom we’ll call Rebecca (not her real name), believed she was talking to another girl.

Rebecca is said to have developed a friendship over several months. McCartney then asked Rebecca for a nude photo, which she sent.

“He then used that to manipulate and blackmail her into sending more photos, eventually including our youngest daughter as part of the blackmail,” Stephen said.

“And then, through her contact list on Snapchat, he also added Rebecca’s cousin, who was older at the time, and then he tried to intimidate her by getting more photos.

“Fortunately, she was mature and smart enough to approach my wife, and then we called the police right away.”

He said as soon as the first photo was sent, McCartney had the power, adding that Rebecca was “playing by his rules” and added: “He took advantage of her innocence there.”

The father explained that his youngest daughter, two years younger, did not know what was going on.

“She just thought it was two sisters playing dress up and taking silly pictures so she actually knew absolutely nothing about it until now.”

Stephen said McCartney’s offending had had a “profound impact” on his eldest daughter.

At the beginning of the year, she moved to college but six weeks later moved back home.

“I believe she missed her opportunity because of trust issues. That’s something she’ll have to deal with forever,” he said.

“We know she uses this drug all the time and I’m sure her mind breaks down when she’s alone.”

Stephen said he and his wife were devastated by what happened to their children but fortunately they were able to play a “small part in bringing their son back to normal”. [McCartney] bring justice and prevent further victims.”

Further information and support for those affected by this story is available BBC Action Line.