YouTube Star Charged with Kidnapping

Summary

• Popular YouTuber Corey Pritchett faces aggravated kidnapping charges and is a fugitive, having left the US.
• Pritchett has tauntingly posted a video online, boasting about evading authorities and downplaying the serious accusations.
• His potential return to the US and the ultimate resolution of the case remain unknown.

YouTube personality Corey Pritchett, known for his engaging content, is embroiled in a serious legal battle. He's been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, prompting his departure from the country shortly after the charges were filed, leaving his substantial online following shocked and concerned.

Pritchett, a US-based content creator, launched his YouTube career in 2016, producing vlogs, challenges, and pranks. While not a top-tier YouTuber, his "CoreySSG" channel boasts approximately 4 million subscribers, and his second channel, "CoreySSG Live," has over 1 million. One of his most viewed videos, "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 personalities. According to ABC13, Pritchett allegedly held two women, aged 19 and 20, against their will at gunpoint after a day of activities. He reportedly drove them at high speeds on I-10, confiscated their phones, and threatened to kill them, expressing anxieties about someone targeting him and mentioning prior accusations of arson.

Pritchett's Flight and Mocking Video

After stopping his vehicle, Pritchett allegedly allowed the women to escape. On December 26, 2024, he was charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, but had already fled to Doha, Qatar, on December 9th on a one-way ticket, later surfacing in Dubai. He subsequently posted a video online, mocking the warrants and portraying himself as a fugitive. This contrasts with the unrelated case of former YouTuber Johnny Somali, who also faces potential imprisonment due to pending charges in South Korea.

The future of Pritchett's case is uncertain, with his willingness to return to the US unknown. The incident recalls the 2023 kidnapping of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, who was eventually released after a terrifying ordeal with a Haitian gang, later sharing his experience with his viewers.