This article explores several tragic incidents involving deaths linked to interactions on Discord, highlighting cases from 2019 to 2025. It covers the stories of Bianca Devins, Michael Dalep, Menhaz Zaman, Payton Gendron, Tristan Roberts, William Colburn, Robert Crimo III, and the dangerous 764 network. The article discusses the impact of online platforms on real-world violence and ongoing legal challenges.
Discord, a popular communication platform originally designed for gamers, has become a hub for diverse communities. However, its private server architecture and minimal oversight have also made it a space where tragic and violent incidents have unfolded. This article delves into some of the most harrowing deaths connected to Discord, revealing the dark side of online interactions.
Bianca Devins, a 17-year-old from Utica, New York, was a kind, creative, and caring young woman with a modest social media following, especially within online gaming communities. She was active on Discord, where she had close friends.
On July 14, 2019, Bianca attended a concert in Queens with Brandon Clark, a 21-year-old Lyft driver she had met on Instagram two months prior. Clark had agreed to drive her to and from the concert. At the concert, Clark saw Bianca kiss another man, which reportedly upset him.
During the drive back to Utica, Clark recorded video footage on his phone. He woke Bianca from sleep to confront her about the kiss. Bianca clarified they were not in a romantic relationship and were not monogamous. Shortly after, Clark fatally stabbed Bianca, causing extensive neck injuries.
At around 6:40 a.m., Clark posted photos of Bianca's body on a Discord server they shared and on his Instagram story, with a disturbing caption. The images spread rapidly, prompting Discord users to alert the police. Clark also called 911, admitting to the killing and threatening self-harm. Police found Clark injured from self-inflicted wounds and took him into custody.
Clark pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on March 16, 2021. The Discord server was shut down, but the circulation of the photos online caused ongoing trauma for Bianca's family. This led to the proposal of "Bianca's Law," requiring social media platforms to have dedicated offices for removing violent content.
Michael Dalep, 37, from Dublin, California, was a devoted husband and avid gamer. He maintained a wide network of online friends on Discord, including Nicholas Palavida from Yuma, Arizona. The two had communicated for about four years.
On August 23, 2024, Palavida drove nine hours to Dalep's apartment. After a brief conversation at the door, Palavida shot Dalep in the head at point-blank range, killing him instantly. Palavida fled but was arrested less than 24 hours later in Barstow, California.
Palavida was charged with murder and firearm violations but was later found incompetent to stand trial and admitted to a state hospital. He had a prior charge in 2020 for attempting to shoot his roommate.
Menhaz Zaman, 23, from Markham, Ontario, lived with his family and was believed by them to be attending university. In reality, he had stopped attending classes and was suffering from depression.
On July 27, 2019, Zaman attacked and killed his mother, grandmother, sister, and father at their home using blunt force trauma and throat cutting. He sent graphic photos and messages describing the murders to contacts on Discord, expressing remorse and a desire for punishment.
The online community traced his location and alerted police, who arrested him without resistance. Zaman pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 40 years.
Payton Gendron, 18, from Conklin, New York, kept a detailed Discord diary outlining his plans to commit a racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. He was radicalized during the COVID-19 pandemic and legally purchased firearms.
On May 14, 2022, Gendron live-streamed his attack on Twitch, killing 10 Black individuals and injuring three others. The live stream was shut down within two minutes, but footage leaked online.
Gendron pleaded guilty to state charges including murder, domestic terrorism, and hate crimes, receiving 11 concurrent life sentences without parole. Federal charges were pending.
Angela Shellis, 45, a teaching assistant in North Wales, was killed by her 18-year-old son, Tristan Roberts, who had autism and ADHD. Roberts was active on Discord, operating multiple accounts and expressing violent intentions.
In the weeks before the murder, Roberts purchased weapons and consulted an AI chatbot for advice on committing the attack. On October 23, 2025, he held his mother captive for over four hours, recording the ordeal.
He then murdered her at a nature reserve and returned home, where he posted about the crime on Discord. Roberts pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22.5 years.
In rural South Texas, 15-year-old William Quince Colburn III shot and killed members of his family inside their RV. The motive remains unknown.
Before law enforcement arrived, Colburn posted photos of the deceased family members on Discord. He threatened further violence at a nearby school but ultimately took his own life inside the trailer.
The exact number and identities of the victims were not publicly released.
Robert Crimo III, 21, known online as Awake, maintained a Discord server where he shared violent and extremist content. On July 4, 2022, he opened fire on a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, killing seven and injuring dozens.
He live-streamed the attack from a rooftop and fled disguised in women's clothing. Crimo was arrested eight hours later and charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.
He pleaded guilty in 2025 and was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms without parole.
Discord's private server structure has allowed dangerous networks like "764" to operate with minimal oversight. This global network used coercion, threats, and blackmail to radicalize and exploit vulnerable users, including children.
Reports of child exploitation and violence connected to 764 were submitted to Discord and law enforcement as early as 2021. Despite numerous reports, the network continued to operate, leading to tragic outcomes such as the coerced self-harm and death of a child known as "J."
German authorities arrested Shahriar Jivan, aka White Tiger, who groomed and abused J on Discord. Jivan faces charges including murder and extensive child exploitation offenses.
J's parents filed a lawsuit against Discord for failing to act on warnings about 764's activities, highlighting ongoing legal and ethical challenges for the platform.
These tragic cases illustrate the profound impact that online platforms like Discord can have on real-world violence. The combination of private, minimally moderated spaces and the ability to share graphic content has created environments where vulnerable individuals can be exploited, radicalized, or driven to commit horrific acts.
The stories of Bianca Devins, Michael Dalep, Menhaz Zaman, Payton Gendron, Tristan Roberts, William Colburn, Robert Crimo III, and the victims of the 764 network underscore the urgent need for improved oversight, responsible platform management, and legal accountability to prevent future tragedies.
As Discord continues to evolve, balancing user privacy with safety remains a critical challenge for the digital age.
