Mum Uncovers Possible Sextortion Link After Son, 14, Dies — Now Fighting for Answers in Landmark Investigation

A grieving mother has spent more than four years searching for answers after her 14-year-old son died, and a disturbing discovery about his online activity has opened up a new line of investigation. Ellen Roome believes her son, Julian “Jools” Sweeney, may have been targeted by online criminals shortly before his death, raising questions that were never properly explored during the original investigation.

Jools died on April 13, 2022, after being found unresponsive at his family home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Police initially treated his death as non-suspicious, and an inquest held five months later lasted just 23 minutes. No live evidence was heard, and the coroner recorded a narrative conclusion without establishing the circumstances leading to his death. His mother, however, remained convinced that important questions had been left unanswered.

At first, Ellen suspected her son might have been involved in a dangerous online challenge. But after hiring private investigators to examine his digital activity, she uncovered potential evidence of something more disturbing. Investigators reportedly identified a suspicious message from an account using the name “John Smitt,” believed to be connected to a West African criminal network, as well as a possible attempt to extort or sexually blackmail the teenager shortly before he died. They also identified an unfamiliar iPhone accessing his social media accounts.

The findings prompted renewed scrutiny of the original police investigation. In July 2026, the High Court overturned the original inquest conclusion and ordered a fresh hearing, ruling that important investigative avenues had not been adequately explored. The court highlighted the lack of a forensic examination of Jools’ phone and the potential significance of the newly discovered digital evidence. Gloucestershire Police also agreed to review additional information uncovered by the private investigators.

The new proceedings moved forward on November 2, 2026, when a preliminary hearing took place at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court. TikTok, Meta and Snapchat were named as interested parties, allowing them to participate in the inquest. The coroner is expected to examine Jools’ online interactions, including possible contact with the account known as “John Smitt,” as well as information held by social media and gaming platforms. A full resumed inquest is expected in 2027.

Ellen has also helped secure a change in UK law known as Jools’ Law, requiring relevant online platforms to preserve a child’s digital data after being notified of their death. For the family, the campaign is about more than legal reform: they want to understand what happened to their son and ensure that no potentially important evidence is overlooked again. The possible sextortion link remains an investigative lead, not a proven explanation for Jools’ death.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40897490/ellen-roome-jools-sextortion/