21-year-old webcam girl died of asphyxiation while snuff porn fan, 45, watched her struggle but didn't call for help
A young woman strangled herself to death while performing 'snuff' porn for a man, who later went on to end his life in prison.
21-year-old camgirl Hope Barden was taking part in sexual activity over the internet when she died from asphyxiation. Authorities found her lifeless body at her Staffordshire flat, the Stoke Sentinel reports.
Investigators scoured through her phone and found she had been involved in an online relationship with a client, who reportedly encouraged her to "engage in dangerous acts of a sexual nature." Jerome Dangar, who is described by Staffordshire Police as a "snuff" porn collector, allegedly made no attempt to raise an alarm after Barden died while he was still online.
However, an inquest at Burton Town Hall ruled on Wednesday that Hope was "unlawfully killed." Her body was found by her flatmate on March 15 last year at their Wood Street, Burton address, the court heard. Dangar was reportedly a regular client of hers for three months as she tried to earn extra cash via webcam pornography. Addressing the court, Hope's mother said Dangar paid her daughter to engage in sexual acts which later "escalated into degrading and dangerous situations."
Two months after the incident, Dangar was arrested while detectives continued to probe into the circumstances surrounding her death. The 45-year-old Cornwall resident was subsequently imprisoned for 15 months in January this year after being convicted of possessing images of extreme pornographic nature.
According to reports, the Crown Prosecution Service was looking to level a manslaughter charge against Dangar, but he killed himself in prison earlier this year. Authorities found his lifeless body in his prison cell at HMP Dartmoor in April.
Detective Inspector John Quilty, from Staffordshire CID, spoke to reporters after the inquest.
“The death of Dangar ultimately prevented prosecutors from charging him in connection with Hope’s death as a result of sexually-related role play," he said. "This type of online sexual activity is extremely dangerous and the repeated persuasion and dangerous requests that Dangar placed on Hope ultimately led to her death.
He continued: “Hope was a 21-year-old woman and her death was tragic. Throughout the investigation, our officers have remained in contact with Hope’s family and have updated them with details. Our thoughts remain with them. We are also grateful for the support from Hope’s friends, as well as her family.”
“Staffordshire Police continues to investigate with a view to understanding the behaviors of those who use the internet to engage in such dangerous acts," DI Quilty added. "The tragic death of Hope, and the potential consequences for Dangar, should send a strong deterrent message to those who engage in such dangerous sexual acts and make requests of others whilst online, anywhere in the UK.”