ITV2 Exposes Alex Rodda Murder In Chilling Detail

In December 2019, the quiet Cheshire village of Holmes Chapel was shaken by a tragedy that would soon capture national attention and ignite debate about the dangers lurking in the digital age. The murder of 15-year-old Alex Rodda by Matthew Mason, a young man he met online, is now the subject of a gripping ITV2 documentary series, Social Media Murders. The program delves into the chilling details of a relationship that began with innocent flirtation on Facebook and spiraled into blackmail, secrecy, and ultimately, a brutal act of violence.

Alex Rodda, described by his family as "caring and trusting," was a student at Holmes Chapel High School. According to The Mirror, he was known for his friendly nature and ability to make friends wherever he went. But behind the scenes, Alex had begun communicating with Matthew Mason, a 19-year-old farmer’s son from Knutsford who had left school to study at college. Their relationship, which started with online messages in October 2019, quickly escalated to exchanging explicit images and videos via Snapchat.

As reported by BBC, Mason admitted in court, "I started getting messages late at night and I was in bed and (Alex) asked if I had any clothes on. I did respond, thought nothing of it." The two began swapping intimate pictures, with Mason, sometimes under the influence of alcohol, sending explicit images and videos to Alex. The situation took a dramatic turn when Alex informed Mason’s then-girlfriend, Caitlyn Lancashire, about their secret liaison. In a message quoted by The Mirror, Alex wrote, "Because I thought I should let you know that the past 2-3 weeks Matt has been trying to message me... I have told him it has to stop but just thought I'd let you know before he does a dhead move and I didn't know he was dating you until I went to go follow him on Instagram."

The fallout from this revelation was swift. Mason’s girlfriend ended their relationship, and tensions between Alex and Mason escalated. According to court evidence, Alex told Mason, "Look, your gf loves you. She doesn't know what to think because she [and] you were together for 2 years like wtf if u were that serious u should not of got your d out at the end of the day. U need to tell your gf the truth Matt because I already have."

What followed was a disturbing pattern of coercion and manipulation. Mason began transferring money to Alex—over £1,270 in early November 2019 alone, with payments linked to sexual encounters. The prosecution argued that these transactions amounted to blackmail, as Alex threatened to expose Mason’s explicit messages and images. In one exchange, Alex warned, "I will literally put your d*** on my story and @ you if you don't stop lying." Mason pleaded for discretion: "I'm talking to her please don't Alex."

The dynamic between the two teenagers grew increasingly fraught. On December 7, 2019, Mason was interrupted by Alex’s mother, Lisa Rodda, while having sex with Alex at her home in Pickmere. That day, Mason transferred another £100 to Alex. Lisa Rodda later told Chester Crown Court, "His eyes were soulless. He was cold and soulless. He already had that motive in his mind. I said to Alex 'stay away from that man'. I felt it, what he was going to do to my boy, I felt it."

In the days leading up to the murder, Mason’s internet searches revealed a sinister premeditation. He looked up phrases like "What would happen if you kicked someone down the stairs," "everyday poison," "things that are poisonous," and "people missing in Cheshire." According to police investigations cited by The Mirror, these searches foreshadowed the violence to come.

On the evening of December 12, 2019, Mason messaged Alex on Snapchat, arranging to meet. CCTV footage captured Alex leaving his house on Holly Grove at 5:24 PM. A friend later recalled Alex’s unease: "He called me and he said 'how weird is this?'... this guy I'm meeting wants to take me to a special secret place in a forest. He said to me he didn't want to go." Despite his reservations, Alex agreed to meet Mason, reportedly because "he needed the money."

Minutes after getting into Mason’s car, Alex posted a Snapchat story showing the inside of the vehicle with a small love heart emoji—his last message. Mason drove Alex to a remote woodland near Ashley, Cheshire. There, Mason struck Alex at least 15 times with a large metal wrench, leaving him partially clothed and alone in the woods. Alex’s body was discovered the next morning by refuse collectors. He had suffered multiple fatal injuries.

After the attack, Mason attempted to cover his tracks. He disposed of Alex’s phone, which has never been recovered, and went to the pub to meet friends, even sending a Snapchat selfie from the pub and a bare-chested photo to his girlfriend later that night. But his efforts to evade justice were short-lived. Police, already suspicious, contacted Mason by text in the early hours of December 13. Later that day, officers stopped Mason on the A41 in Staffordshire and found a blood-stained wrench in his car. He was arrested and charged with murder.

During his trial at Chester Crown Court in January 2021, Mason admitted to attacking Alex but denied murder, claiming he had "lost control" after being blackmailed. Prosecutors rejected this defense, arguing that the killing was deliberate and involved sustained violence. The jury agreed, and Mason was found guilty of murder. The judge described the attack as brutal and noted Mason’s complete lack of empathy for his victim. Mason was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years, meaning he will not be eligible for parole until the late 2040s.

Alex’s family and friends remain devastated. His mother, Lisa, described him as "a very loving, caring, kind, loyal and most of all, trusting young boy. He loved life and made friends wherever he went. He will be sorely missed." The case has prompted national debate about the risks young people face online, with the UK government now considering whether to ban those under 16 from social media platforms—a measure already announced in Australia.

As Social Media Murders revisits the harrowing details of Alex Rodda’s case, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk behind the screens of our everyday lives, and the urgent need for vigilance, education, and safeguarding in the digital age.