The boy, Breck Bednar, had been gaming with Daynes for months despite Breck’s mother’s efforts to get Breck to break off the relationship. Instead, Breck snuck off to meet Daynes, when he was supposed to be traveling to his father’s house, and was stabbed several times.
His mother, Lorin LaFave, hopes Breck’s death may help others caught in a similar trap. “I want Breck’s tragedy to help open the eyes of everyone to recognize the dangers of online predators,” she said. “It’s a very real danger today.” (ABC News)
Paul Asay has written for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for PluggedIn and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He recently collaborated with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, on his book The Good Dad. He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and his two children. Check out his entertainment blog or follow him on Twitter.