Current:Home > reviewsDelaware man charged in kidnapping of 11-year-old New Jersey girl after online gaming -CapitalWay
Delaware man charged in kidnapping of 11-year-old New Jersey girl after online gaming
View
Date:2025-04-17 23:14:37
A Delaware man has been arrested and charged with the kidnapping of an 11-year-old New Jersey girl who authorities say he met playing online video games.
The girl was found and recovered from a small Delaware community on Sept. 10 after being reported missing the same day, according to a Thursday news release from the office of Passaic County prosecutor Camelia Valdes.
Darius Matylewich, 27, is charged with kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. He's accused of luring the girl after meeting her while playing an online video game and taking her from her hometown of Wayne, New Jersey, about 140 miles southwest to his hometown of Bear, Delaware.
Matylewich's attorney, Jillian Elko, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
Matylewich had been expected in court Monday for a hearing to determine whether he's eligible for release or should be held while awaiting trial but a court official said it was delayed until Oct. 20.
The New Castle County Police in Delaware arrested Matylewich in Bear and extradited him to New Jersey, where he could face more than 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
Hate crime:Stabbing death of 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois to be investigated as hate crime
'Playing with a handgun':10-year-old Illinois boy found dead in garbage can may have 'accidentally' shot himself, police say
Matylewich communicated with girl on Roblox, official says
Matylewich met the girl playing online video games and the two communicated through Roblox, a gaming platform, said Jennifer Fetterman, chief assistant prosecutor with the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.
Roblox did not immediately provide a statement to USA TODAY on Monday but told WPVI-TV in Philadelphia that they have reached out to law enforcement agencies and are offering help.
"We work tirelessly to prevent grooming on our platform and have a team of thousands of moderators who enforce a strict set of community standards," Roblox said in a statement.
On their website, Roblox has listed several resources for parents concerned about their children's safety.
"Safety and civility are foundational to everything we do," the company says. "We’ve built a platform with industry-leading safety and civility features. We continuously evolve our platform as our community grows and evolves."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
Contributing: Amanda Myers, USA TODAY
veryGood! (73181)
Related
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Colorado won't take questions from journalist who was critical of Deion Sanders
- Hundreds cruise Philadelphia streets in the 15th annual Philly Naked Bike Ride
- Sales tax revenue, full costs unclear if North Dakota voters legalize recreational marijuana
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Fire hits historic Southern California baseball field seen in Hollywood movies
- Death of Connecticut man found in river may be related to flooding that killed 2 others, police say
- Death of Connecticut man found in river may be related to flooding that killed 2 others, police say
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Texas chief who called Uvalde response ‘abject failure’ but defended his state police is retiring
Ranking
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Here's Prince William's Next Move After Summer Break With Kate Middleton and Their Kids
- Honolulu struggles to find a remedy for abandoned homes taken over by squatters
- What's the value of a pet prenup agreement? This married couple has thoughts
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Sales tax revenue, full costs unclear if North Dakota voters legalize recreational marijuana
- Fire hits historic Southern California baseball field seen in Hollywood movies
- Top workplaces: Your chance to be deemed one of the top workplaces in the US
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Jordan Montgomery slams Boras' negotiations: 'Kind of butchered it'
Christina Hall's Ex Ant Anstead Calls Himself Lucky Boy While Praising Girlfriend Renée Zellweger
Cheese has plenty of protein. But it's not 100% good for you.
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Daniel Suarez's car catches fire during NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona
Takeaways from AP’s report on federal policies shielding information about potential dam failures
What Each Zodiac Sign Needs for Virgo Season, According to Your Horoscope