Prominent YouTuber Faces Kidnapping Charges

YouTube Star Corey Pritchett Faces Kidnapping Charges, Flees to the Middle East

Popular YouTube content creator Corey Pritchett is facing two counts of aggravated kidnapping and has reportedly fled the United States. The allegations, which have sent shockwaves through his online community, involve an incident on November 24, 2024, in southwest Houston.

Pritchett, known for his family vlogs, challenges, and pranks on his channels "CoreySSG" (4 million subscribers) and "CoreySSG Live" (over 1 million subscribers), allegedly kidnapped two women, ages 19 and 20, after meeting them at a gym. According to reports from ABC13, the day involved ATV riding and bowling before taking a violent turn. Pritchett allegedly threatened the women at gunpoint, drove them at high speed on I-10, confiscated their phones, and threatened to kill them. He reportedly expressed paranoia about being pursued and mentioned accusations of arson. After stopping the vehicle, he allegedly gave the women a chance to escape, leading them to walk for over an hour before finding help.

On December 26, 2024, Pritchett was charged. However, he had already left the country on December 9th, flying to Doha, Qatar, on a one-way ticket. He is now believed to be in Dubai, where he posted a video mocking the charges and his situation, openly stating he is "on the run."

The situation mirrors other high-profile cases involving online personalities. Former YouTube streamer Johnny Somali also faces potential jail time in South Korea, though unrelated to Pritchett's case. The incident also recalls the 2023 kidnapping of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, who was eventually released after a harrowing experience.

The outcome of Pritchett's case remains uncertain. Whether he will return to the US to face the charges remains unknown.