WAYNESBORO – “No one expects it to happen to them until it does,” Tricia Maciejewski told about 100 high school students and parents at a Waynesboro meeting last week.
Maciejewski runs the Live Like Levi Foundation, along with her husband, Shippensburg University football coach Mike Maciejewski, a foundation started after their son, Levi, took his own life at the age of 13 on Aug. 24, 2024. Levi, as the crowd would hear, was one of many victims of cyber crimes that take place in the dark shadows of social media.
And Maciewjewski’s cautionary, heartfelt story was backed by FBI Special Agent Geoffrey Ford, who specializes in cyber-crime, working from the Philadelphia FBI field office.
The evening event was part of the WASD Parent and Community Night. During the meeting, the WASHS National Honor Society presented a check for $1,000 to the Like Levi Foundation, which the Maciewjewski family set up in Levi’s honor.
Maciejewski began the evening by sharing Levi’s story. He became the victim of a “sextortion” scheme. He met a sexual predator on Instagram who was posing as a teenage girl. As this is an ongoing investigation involving the FBI cybercrimes division, the details of the case have not been released. But one does not need to know the details of Levi’s case to know that social media can be dangerous, and predators seem not to care.
According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, sextortion cases have jumped from 13,842 cases in 2024 to 23,593 cases in 2025. But the even more frightening figure is the number of “online enticement” cases that went from 292,951 in 2024 to a staggering 518,720 in 2025. Online enticing is the first stage of engagement that pulls children, teens and even adults into the dark shadows of online predators.
Ford, whose office covers all of central Pennsylvania, including Franklin County, offered even more insight into the dangers one can find on social media websites. He shared examples such as drug distribution, mostly fentanyl, which is heavily pushed through social media sites.
He talked about “nihilistic violent extremism,” which is a form of hatred of society and a desire to cause chaos and how individuals who practice such behavior seek out lonely and depressed teens and adults who frequent social media in search of a place to “belong” and feel self-worth. These extremists manipulate the social media users and coax them into doing harm to themselves and to those around them.
Ford also warned of the looming danger of Artificial Intelligence and how cyber criminals are starting to learn how to use it to inflict even more damage to their victims. While he did not discourage using AI tools, he did suggest being mindful of how they are used, especially when posting photos and videos on social media.
Maciejewski also stressed that she does not believe what happened to her son, or to many of the parents who have suffered the same ordeal as her family’s are to blame. Her children were raised in a Christian home, with strong values and a nurturing upbringing.
Levi was not lonely or depressed, but rather outgoing, popular and full of life. He was just unaware of the dangers that lurked on the web, and Maciejewski and husband were not educated in those dangers and were unaware they even existed.
She offered these words of suggestion, “if something feels off to you, it probably is.”
As her voice began to crack, she added, “The boogeyman exists and is inside your back pocket. As Facebook and social media grew, children began to die, and people were too busy scrolling to notice.”
So, now Tricia and Mike Maciejewski have dedicated their energies towards educating others and making them aware through the Live Like Levi Foundation, which offers resources and education about the risks of social media and the internet. It also provides links for those who can help if one is in need.
If you or someone you know has experienced or is experiencing any kind of cyber criminal activity there are places to go to get help. Here are a few links where resources for education and help can be found.
Live Like Levi: Live Like Levi Foundation
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Pennsylvania Cybercrime Hotline: Cybercrime reporting and resources for PA residents | State Police | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Franklin County Crime Hotline: Help For Victims & Witnesses -Franklin County Waynesboro Police Department: Waynesboro Police Department | Franklin County
