YouTube Star Charged with Kidnapping

Summary

• Popular YouTuber Corey Pritchett is charged with aggravated kidnapping and has left the United States.
• Pritchett posted a video online making light of the situation and his flight from authorities.
• The legal proceedings and Pritchett's potential return to the US are currently unresolved.

YouTube content creator Corey Pritchett faces serious allegations: two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Following the filing of these charges, Pritchett reportedly left the country, a surprising turn of events for his many followers.

For those unfamiliar, Pritchett is a US-based social media personality known for his engaging online content. His YouTube career began in 2016, featuring family vlogs, challenges, and pranks. While not a top-tier YouTuber, he's amassed a substantial following, with his primary channel, "CoreySSG," boasting approximately 4 million subscribers and his secondary channel, "CoreySSG Live," exceeding 1 million. One particularly popular video, "LET’S HAVE A BABY PRANK," has achieved over 12 million views.

Pritchett's legal troubles stem from an alleged kidnapping incident on November 24, 2024, in southwest Houston, adding to a concerning trend of kidnapping cases involving online personalities. According to ABC13, two women, aged 19 and 20, met Pritchett at a gym and spent the day with him, participating in activities such as ATV riding and bowling. The situation escalated when Pritchett allegedly threatened them at gunpoint, drove them at high speed on I-10, confiscated their phones, and reportedly stated his intention to kill them. The women later informed authorities that Pritchett exhibited anxiety, believing someone was pursuing him, and mentioned previous accusations of arson.

Pritchett's Flight and Subsequent Video

After stopping his vehicle, Pritchett allegedly gave the women a chance to escape. They subsequently walked for over an hour before encountering someone who assisted them in contacting the police. On December 26, 2024, Pritchett was charged, but he had already fled the country. Authorities confirmed his departure to Doha, Qatar, on December 9th on a one-way ticket, and he is now believed to be in Dubai. From there, he posted a video mocking the warrants against him, describing himself as "on the run" and making light of the situation. This contrasts with the serious charges he faces, mirroring the unrelated case of former YouTuber Johnny Somali, who also faces potential imprisonment in South Korea.

The resolution of this case remains uncertain, and whether Pritchett will return to the US to face justice is unknown. The case recalls the 2023 kidnapping of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, who was eventually released after a harrowing experience with a Haitian gang, later sharing footage of his ordeal.