A 10-year-old American girl was kidnapped by a 27-year-old man she met on the online game Roblox. Matthew Macatuno Nawal, from California, was arrested on Sunday after police tracked him down. He is accused of kidnapping and engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with a minor.
How the Kidnapping Unfolded
The girl’s family reported her missing on Sunday after she failed to return home. Police began investigating, and detectives found evidence suggesting she had been kidnapped. They discovered she had been chatting with Nawal on Roblox and Discord, and believed they were likely together in Elk Grove, California, about 250 miles from her home. Police located the girl on Sunday afternoon.
Nawal was arrested and held at Sacramento County Jail before being transferred to Kern County Jail. His bail was set at $250,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office warned parents to monitor their children’s online activities closely. Many apps and games have chat features that can be just as risky as social media.
Response from Roblox and Discord
Roblox and Discord both said they don’t tolerate harassment or exploitation of children. A Roblox spokesperson said they are investigating and have tools to prevent predatory behavior. Discord also said they will remove content and ban users who break their rules and will work with law enforcement. They reported the incident to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The source of this information is CNN.