A new BBC Sounds series explores the case of Alexander McCartney, a student from Northern Ireland whose online deception caused widespread abuse and tragedy.
Crime Next Door – When a Catfish Kills reveals how he targeted thousands of children and examines the devastating consequences of his actions.
McCartney posed as a teenage girl named Chloe, creating a persona that seemed relatable and friendly. He used this false identity to build trust with other young girls on social media before encouraging them to share explicit images.
Once the images were sent, his behaviour shifted to threats and blackmail, trapping his victims in silence and fear.
He was arrested in Newry, Co Down, after an international investigation uncovered evidence of abuse on an unprecedented scale. Police discovered thousands of indecent images and videos across his devices.
McCartney later admitted to 185 charges involving seventy victims, though detectives believe he targeted more than three thousand five hundred children worldwide.
The impact of his crimes went far beyond the internet. In West Virginia, twelve-year-old Cimarron Thomas took her own life only days after receiving her first message from him. Her father Ben, devastated by her death, ended his life a year later.
McCartney eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a minimum sentence of twenty years in prison.
The series focuses on the experiences of victims and survivors, exploring how McCartney’s abuse continues to affect them today.
It features contributions from Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan of the PSNI, Catherine Kierans from the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland and Paul Wolpert of US Homeland Security. Audio of McCartney recorded by the PSNI is also included.
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty, the series asks why McCartney was able to evade detection for so long and how society can protect vulnerable people in an age when meeting online is part of everyday life.
Crime Next Door – When a Catfish Kills is available now on BBC Sounds. The programme contains content that is not suitable for children.
