Prominent YouTuber Faces Kidnapping Charges

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, seemingly mocking the charges and his fugitive status.
• His potential return to the US and the ultimate resolution of the case remain unknown.

Corey Pritchett, a prominent YouTube personality with millions of subscribers across two channels, is facing serious legal trouble. He's been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping stemming from an incident on November 24, 2024, in Houston, Texas. The allegations, which have shocked his fanbase, involve the alleged abduction and threat of two young women at gunpoint.

Pritchett's YouTube career, launched in 2016, featured family vlogs, challenges, and pranks, earning him a substantial following. His most popular video, a prank involving a baby, boasts over 12 million views. However, this recent incident paints a starkly different picture.

According to reports, Pritchett met two women, aged 19 and 20, at a gym. After a day of activities, including ATV riding and bowling, the situation escalated dramatically. Pritchett allegedly threatened the women with a firearm, forcing them into his vehicle and driving at high speeds on I-10 while confiscating their phones. He reportedly expressed paranoia, believing someone was pursuing him, and even mentioned prior accusations of arson. After stopping the vehicle, he allegedly gave the women a chance to escape, leading to a harrowing hour-long trek before they found help and contacted authorities.

Pritchett's Flight and Mocking Video

Charged on December 26th, 2024, Pritchett had already left the country. He reportedly flew to Doha, Qatar, on December 9th on a one-way ticket and is now believed to be in Dubai. Adding insult to injury, he subsequently uploaded a video from his location, seemingly making light of the warrants and his situation, declaring himself "on the run." This contrasts sharply with the serious nature of the charges against him. The case also highlights a concerning trend, with other online personalities, such as Johnny Somali, facing legal repercussions, though unrelated to Pritchett's situation.

The future of this case remains uncertain. Whether Pritchett will voluntarily return to the US to face justice is currently unknown. The incident brings to mind the 2023 kidnapping of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, a harrowing experience he later documented for his followers. The contrast between Pritchett's seemingly flippant response and the gravity of the allegations underscores the complexities of this developing story.