Suspected ‘764’ Cult Member Charged After 13-Year-Old Discovered Hanging in Parking Lot

Charges Filed in Cult-Related Teen Suicide Case

A man in Washington state has been charged for allegedly encouraging a 13-year-old boy to hang himself as part of a cult-like group, following a thorough investigation by the FBI and German authorities.

German prosecutors have indicted a defendant referred to as “The White Tiger” on numerous charges, including murder, related to the online abuse and sexual exploitation of over 30 children. Reports indicate that this individual is connected to an online movement known as 764, which the FBI associates with a deep-seated nihilism and a profound disdain for society.

The case gained attention after the teenage victim was discovered hanging from an extension cord on a chain link fence in a grocery store parking lot in January 2022 in Gig Harbor, Washington. It was later revealed that online predators from the group were suspected of encouraging the boy to take his own life, even live-streaming the act via Instagram through his phone. Alleged messages from the suspects suggested that he undress, stating it could make things “hotter.”

Reports suggest that the victim had communicated to his parents at the age of 10 about identifying as transgender and subsequently faced challenges like anorexia and depression. Prosecutors assert that “The White Tiger” formed a relationship with him online when the boy was just 16, prompting self-harming behaviors among him and other children.

The FBI has expressed concern that threats to children associated with the 764 group have escalated in recent years, with cult members targeting vulnerable youths in private chats and encouraging them to self-harm or engage in degrading acts. While different groups may adopt various names, there appears to be a shared methodology rooted in the tactics employed by 764, with members collaboratively working to evade restrictions imposed by tech companies.

Investigators traced “The White Tiger’s” online activities and reportedly uncovered evidence of other victims who were urged to self-harm, alongside images of him portraying himself as a woman across various platforms. Allegedly, he distributed abusive content to others in the group, aiming to bolster his standing within this criminal network.

Authorities in Germany also searched his home, uncovering firearms, dead animals, and online guides for building explosives and executing terrorist attacks.