YouTube Star Charged in Kidnapping Case

Summary

• Popular YouTuber Corey Pritchett is charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping and has fled to the Middle East.
• Pritchett posted a video from Dubai, making light of the charges and his escape.
• The legal ramifications and his potential return to the US are currently unknown.

YouTube personality Corey Pritchett, known for his engaging content on his channels "CoreySSG" (4 million subscribers) and "CoreySSG Live" (over 1 million subscribers), is facing serious legal trouble. He's been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping following an incident on November 24, 2024, in Houston, Texas. The allegations, which have shocked many fans, involve the alleged abduction of two young women (ages 19 and 20).

According to reports from ABC13, Pritchett met the women at a gym. After a day of activities including ATV riding and bowling, the situation escalated dramatically. Pritchett allegedly threatened the women at gunpoint, drove them at high speed on I-10, confiscated their phones, and claimed he intended to kill them. The women reported Pritchett appeared anxious, believing he was being targeted, and mentioned prior accusations of arson. He eventually allowed them to escape, and they subsequently contacted authorities.

Pritchett's Flight and Mocking Video

Charged on December 26, 2024, Pritchett had already left 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 his new location, he released a video downplaying the seriousness of the charges and joking about being a fugitive. This contrasts sharply with the serious nature of the allegations and the trauma experienced by the alleged victims. The case highlights a concerning trend of legal issues involving online content creators, similar to the unrelated case of former YouTuber Johnny Somali facing potential charges in South Korea.

The future of this case is uncertain. Whether Pritchett will return to the US to face the charges remains to be seen. The incident also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by some individuals in the public eye, echoing the 2023 kidnapping and subsequent release of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, an experience he later documented for his followers.