A California family is devastated after the sudden death of their 13-year-old son, Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., who they believe fell victim to a dangerous social media challenge.
On the morning of February 3, the young teen was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta—just a day after enjoying an evening with his family watching the Grammy Awards. His mother desperately performed CPR while his father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., rushed to get help. Tragically, their efforts were in vain, and the boy was pronounced dead.
Initially, there were concerns about suicide, but his parents refused to accept that explanation. Their own investigation led them to suspect that their son had attempted a hazardous challenge, eerily similar to the infamous “Blackout Challenge,” which has been linked to multiple child fatalities worldwide.
Shockingly, Ohaeri Jr. had no social media accounts, and his phone was locked with strict parental controls. This left his grieving parents to believe he may have learned about the challenge from classmates or friends.
Now, the Ohaeri family is speaking out, urging parents to have open conversations with their children—not just about drugs and bullying, but also the silent dangers of viral social media trends.
“We talk about avoiding drugs and making good choices, but we never thought to warn him about challenges like this,” Ohaeri Sr. shared. “Maybe we need to start.”
As the family wrestles with grief and unanswered questions, authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of death. The Murrieta Police Department has not provided further details on whether the case is being investigated as an accident or something more.
For now, the Ohaeri family hopes their tragic loss will serve as a wake-up call for parents everywhere: Talk to your kids before social media does.
