Part of being human is experiencing heartbreaking tragedies. Very few people get out of this life unscathed by adversity of some kind. It matters most what we choose to do with that. For one South Carolina dad and legislator, the only answer is to make sure other families never have to go through what he did.
Brandon Guffey’s 17-year-old son, Gavin, died by suicide on July 27, 2022. Brandon quickly learned this was because Gavin was a victim of online sexual extortion. He had sent naked photos to someone who enticed him and then used the images as blackmail, threatening to release them to the world. He did not know what to do, so he took his own life instead.
Brandon remembers that tragic day all too well. He was home when he heard a loud noise. "It sounded like a bowling ball falling and crashing through shelves," he told People magazine. He went to investigate and ended up having to break down the bathroom door. Inside he made the horrible discovery.
He found Gavin bleeding on the floor. "I'm thinking he fell and hit his head," he recalled but then saw the gun next to his son. "I could smell and taste the gunpowder," he said.
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Brandon realized his son had taken his own life. It was the worst day of his life. "I've never experienced anything like that, that amount of pain," he said. "Still, to this day, it's still very painful."
Brandon and his family tried to make sense of this tragic event. They learned that on the night that he died, Gavin had sent compromising pictures to someone he met online, thinking she was a young woman. After he sent the pictures, the person or persons on the other end told him they would release the images to the world if he didn’t send money through cash apps.
"My son was a target," Brandon said. He is working with authorities to get justice for his son. He didn’t stop there.
At the time of Gavin’s death, Brandon was a candidate for the South Carolina House of Representatives. He won a seat and got to work. He introduced a new proposal that would make sexual extortion a crime with a penalty of up to 30 years in prison. He hopes it will reach the floor in April and be passed before the end of May.
"This needs to be passed today!" he stated emphatically. "Bills move slowly yet we have a habit of moving some things through quickly. What is more important than saving kids?"
Brandon is also working hard to raise awareness of the issue. He made T-shirts and pins, got a special tattoo, and often wears a special tie. "This is a major crime. But people do not talk about it. Everything I do is trying to draw awareness. I would shout it from the mountaintop if I could,” he said.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
