Family of missing Douglas County man targeted in $10K extortion scheme
The Brief
Chris McKoy, a rideshare driver from Douglas County, has been missing since Jan. 7.
His family says they've been extorted for $10,000 by someone claiming to have information about him.
The extortion attempt was made using the phone number listed on the missing person flyer, with the caller warning that McKoy's father didn't know what his son was involved in.
Bernard McKoy, Chris's father, provided the Douglas County Sheriff's Department with text messages from the extortionist, which were in both English and Spanish.
The McKoy family remains hopeful but acknowledges that the extortion attempt has added emotional strain and distraction to their search efforts.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - The family of a missing Douglas County man says it has been extorted, and the incident is under investigation by authorities.
What we know
Chris McKoy has been missing for three weeks.
His father believes someone used the telephone number on the missing person flyer to contact him with a demand for $10,000 for information about his son.
What they're saying
"He ( the caller) said, 'You don't know what your son is into. If you want to see your son again,' he wants $10,000," Bernard McKoy said. "I don't have $10,000."
McKoy shared the series of text messages he has received, which were in a mix of English and Spanish, to the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.
"It's just crazy how some of these people trying to prey on other people's grief," exclaimed McKoy.
The backstory
After a reported accident in Gwinnett County, Chris McKoy, a rideshare driver, told his mother he couldn't pick up his son from school, and his ex-wife should instead.
The 6-feet-2-inch tall and 175-pound man has not been seen since Jan. 7.
McKoy's family found his missing car more than a week later near a Norcross elementary school.
What's next
The McKoy's are holding onto hope that their son will be found alive. However, they say incidents like this make it so much tougher.
"You begin to doubt. These people just distract your focus, take away from your drive," lamented McKoy. "Let's find our son and bring him home."
The Source
FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Kevyn Stewart has been closely following the disappearance of Chris McKoy since mid-January. Stewart interviewed Chris' father, Bernard McKoy, for this article. McKoy showed Stewart copies of the threatening texts in Spanish that he has shared with the Gwinnett County police.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
LAPD fires flash-bang grenades, less-lethal rounds at protesters
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police lobbed flash-bang grenades and shot less-lethal munitions at peaceful protesters Wednesday as Angelenos took to the streets in a sixth day of demonstrations denouncing President Donald Trump's crackdown on America's immigrant community. Several people said they were struck — and injured — by the projectiles, and some people said they heard dispersal orders given well before the 8 p.m. curfew. The LAPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday night. In recent days, protesters have convened on the city's federal complex in downtown Los Angeles. On Wednesday, however, protesters shifted tactics, and gathered at Pershing Square, a public park about three quarters of a mile from City Hall. There, protesters held a peaceful rally and then marched down Hill Street to City Hall, chanting slogans in Spanish and English, decrying ICE's deportation raids. 'I'm tired of turning on the TV, crying, and seeing families ripped apart,' said Billy Tagle, 45, who marched carrying a huge homemade banner emblazoned with a picture of a heart made up of Mexican and American flags and the slogan 'United we Stand.' He said he was tired of seeing President Trump belittling Californians. 'He didn't even give Gov. Gavin Newsom or the mayor the chance to defuse the situation,' he said, speaking of the protests that erupted earlier this week. 'Right now I feel a lot of unity — we care about our people,' he said, as chants of 'ICE out of LA' echoed behind him. At City Hall, protesters gathered on the building's steps, as a line of police officers decked in riot gear looked on. Some protesters handed water out to each other, others line danced and played musical instruments, chanting 'Peaceful Protest' as officers looked on. Soon, however, the evening took a dark turn, as police began clearing out the crowd, lobbing flash-bang grenades and chasing protesters. People reported seeing officers fire less-lethal rounds and others said they were injured by them. Among the people chased by police was Sara Alura. 'I didn't have high expectations of the police, but it's shocking,' she said. 'A total lack of recognition of our First Amendment rights to assemble and to express ourselves. It's shocking but not surprising.' Across from City Hall, Donaldo Angel Pedro, 25, was decked out in a pith helmet and a tan vest on which he'd painted the words 'Jesus forgives prostitutes, not hypocrites.' He and others fled back toward Grand Park as police unleashed flash-bang grenades. 'They're getting afraid of the crowd size,' he said, gesturing at the officers attempting to hem in the demonstrators. As police advanced, the crowd retreated up into Gloria Molina Grand Park. Among them was Megan Marmon, 32, a Los Angeles resident originally from Alameda. The police response was a reminder of the city's response to the 2020 protests against George Floyd's murder, she said. 'Everything I've seen here from protesters has been entirely peaceful,' she said. But in just a few minutes, she witnessed three people shot with what she described as rubber bullets. 'The aggression from LAPD feels totally insane,' she said. Nearby, a 49-year-old man who only identified himself as Quincy struggled with a bandage on his elbow. Minutes earlier, he said, he'd witnessed an altercation between two protesters. As the two men neared him, he said, police fired less-lethal munitions, and a round caught him just above the elbow, leaving a nasty cut and a bump the size of a small egg. 'If the cops aren't trying to cause problems, they're doing a terrible job,' he said, as a field medic re-wrapped his arm. Moments later, Miles Ma, 31, walked by, and revealed a similar injury on his torso. He'd been taking photos when the police had ordered protesters to disperse. As he turned and ran, a less-lethal round caught him in the stomach. 'They are rude,' he said. 'It's too much.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Australian mushroom murder suspect denies intent to kill
An Australian woman accused of murdering three lunch guests with a toxic mushroom-laced beef Wellington denied Thursday that she intended to kill them. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with murdering her estranged husband's parents and aunt in July 2023 by spiking the beef-and-pastry dish with death cap mushrooms. She is also accused of attempting to murder a fourth guest -- her husband's uncle -- who survived the lunch after a long stay in hospital. Patterson denies all charges in the trial, which has grabbed worldwide attention. She says the traditional English dish, which she cooked in individually sized portions, was poisoned by accident. Prosecutor Nanette Rogers concluded her cross-examination of Patterson on Thursday by suggesting she deliberately sought death cap mushrooms and put them in the beef Wellington. Patterson rejected each accusation. Rogers put it to Patterson that she intended to kill her lunch guests. Patterson replied: "Disagree." The court also heard about two mobile devices used by Patterson -- phone A, which was the main device she used, and phone B, which was activated days after the lunch. Patterson said she began using phone B when her main phone was damaged. - Missing mobile - Rogers alleged the main phone had been used to view online posts about death cap mushroom sightings near Patterson's home in the months before the fatal lunch. Patterson disagreed. While police were searching Patterson's home on August 5, 2023, her main phone lost connection to the network. Police have not located the device since. Instead, Patterson handed over phone B to authorities. That device underwent a factory reset three times in the days after the lunch, Rogers said. The prosecutor alleged that the resets were done "to conceal the true contents of phone B" and that Patterson had hidden her original phone from police because "the data on that device would incriminate you". Patterson disagreed with both statements. She has previously said phone B belonged to her son and she conducted the resets to remove his data so she could use the device. The lunch host originally invited her estranged husband Simon to join the family meal at her secluded home in the Victoria state farm village of Leongatha. But Simon turned down the invitation saying he felt uncomfortable going, the court heard earlier. The pair were long estranged but still legally married. Simon's parents Don and Gail, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, attended the lunch. All three were dead within days. Heather's husband Ian fell gravely ill but recovered. The trial in Morwell, southeast of Melbourne, is expected to last another two weeks. lec/djw/sco
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman allegedly opens fire into occupied apartment in Brooklyn: NYPD
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — The NYPD is searching for a woman accused of opening fire into an occupied apartment in Brooklyn on May 26. The incident happened around 2:45 a.m. in front of 327 Warwick Street. More Local News The suspect allegedly fired into the apartment before fleeing on foot, heading east on Liberty Avenue, police say. No injuries were reported. The woman, pictured below, was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black Crocs. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
