YouTube Star Nabbed for Alleged Abduction

Summary

• Popular YouTuber Corey Pritchett is charged with aggravated kidnapping and has left the US.
• Pritchett posted a video from abroad, making light of the charges and his flight.
• His potential return to the US and the case's outcome are currently unknown.

Corey Pritchett, a well-known YouTube personality, is facing serious accusations: two counts of aggravated kidnapping. The news shocked many fans after it emerged that he left the country shortly after the charges were filed.

Pritchett, a US-based content creator, gained popularity through family vlogs, challenges, and pranks since starting his YouTube journey in 2016. While not a top-tier YouTuber, his channels, "CoreySSG" (around 4 million subscribers) and "CoreySSG Live" (over 1 million subscribers), have substantial followings. One video, "LET’S HAVE A BABY PRANK," has amassed over 12 million views.

The alleged kidnapping incident occurred on November 24, 2024, in southwest Houston, adding to a concerning trend of kidnapping cases involving online influencers. According to ABC13, Pritchett met two women (ages 19 and 20) at a gym. After a day of activities like ATV riding and bowling, the situation escalated. Pritchett allegedly threatened them at gunpoint, sped away on I-10, confiscated their phones, and reportedly told them he intended to kill them. The women reported Pritchett expressed anxiety about someone targeting him and mentioned accusations of arson.

Pritchett's Flight and Mocking Video

After stopping his vehicle, Pritchett allegedly gave the women a chance to escape. They walked for over an hour before finding help and contacting the police. On December 26, 2024, Pritchett was charged, but he had already fled to Doha, Qatar, on December 9th on a one-way ticket, according to authorities who confirmed his travel with the FBI. He's now reportedly in Dubai, where he posted a video mocking the warrants and his situation, claiming to be "on the run." This contrasts with the serious legal trouble faced by another former YouTube streamer, Johnny Somali, who is facing potential new charges in South Korea (though unrelated to Pritchett's case).

The future of this case remains uncertain. Whether Pritchett will return to the US to face justice is unknown. It's worth noting the 2023 kidnapping and subsequent release of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, an event he later documented, highlighting the dangers faced by online personalities.