In Passaic County, New Jersey, a 27-year-old man is facing charges of first-degree kidnapping and third-degree child endangerment after allegedly using the online gaming platform Roblox to lure an 11-year-old girl and transport her across state lines.
Darius Matylewich is accused of meeting the minor on the popular gaming platform and subsequently abducting her from Wayne, New Jersey, and taking her to Bear, Delaware, without her parents’ knowledge or consent. The Wayne Police Department located the girl shortly after she was reported missing.
The incident unfolded on September 10, 2023, when the Wayne Police Department responded to a report of a missing child. The girl was found in Bear, Delaware, a city approximately 12 miles southwest of the Delaware capital, Wilmington. Matylewich was initially arrested in New Castle County, Delaware, on the same day and has since been extradited to New Jersey.
Roblox, the platform where Matylewich allegedly communicated with the girl, has denied that the two met on their platform based on their internal investigation. A spokesperson for the company emphasized their commitment to user safety, particularly for their youngest users, and their ongoing efforts to prevent grooming on their platform.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking additional information on this case or any similar incidents involving Matylewich. If convicted, Matylewich could face 10 to 30 years in prison for the kidnapping charge, with a requirement to serve 85% of his term before being eligible for parole. The endangering charge carries a potential sentence of three to five years.