Summary
- Popular YouTuber Corey Pritchett faces two counts of aggravated kidnapping and is a fugitive from US justice.
- Pritchett, currently believed to be in Dubai, has defiantly posted a video online boasting about evading authorities.
- His legal situation remains unresolved, with his potential return to the US uncertain.
Corey Pritchett, a prominent US-based YouTube content creator, is embroiled in a serious legal battle. He's been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping following an incident on November 24, 2024, in southwest Houston. The allegations, which have shocked his substantial online following, detail a terrifying ordeal for two young women.
Pritchett, known for his family vlogs, challenges, and pranks on his channels "CoreySSG" (approximately 4 million subscribers) and "CoreySSG Live" (over 1 million subscribers), allegedly kidnapped two women, aged 19 and 20, after meeting them at a gym. According to reports from ABC13, the day's activities, which included ATV riding and bowling, took a sinister turn when Pritchett allegedly threatened the women at gunpoint, speeding on I-10 while confiscating their phones and threatening to kill them. The women reported Pritchett's apparent anxiety, believing someone was pursuing him, and his alleged involvement in a car fire.
After stopping his vehicle, Pritchett reportedly allowed the women to escape, leading to a harrowing hour-long walk before they found help and contacted the police.
While Pritchett was charged on December 26, 2024, he had already fled the country. Authorities confirmed his departure on December 9th to Doha, Qatar, on a one-way ticket, and he is now believed to be in Dubai, where he posted a video mocking the warrants and his situation. This contrasts with the unrelated case of former YouTuber Johnny Somali, who also faces potential imprisonment in South Korea.
The future of this case remains uncertain. Whether Pritchett will voluntarily return to the US to face the charges is unknown. The incident highlights the sometimes precarious nature of online fame, echoing the 2023 kidnapping of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, who was later released after a harrowing experience.
