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Missing persons cases linked to Roblox

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Missing persons cases linked to Roblox are incidents in which users of the online platform Roblox went missing or were abducted after interacting with others on the service, though the platform itself is not considered the cause of these incidents.

Background

Further information: Roblox and Child safety on Roblox

Roblox is an online user-generated game creation platform developed by Roblox Corporation and released in 2006.[1] Although Roblox is free-to-play, it features a virtual currency called "Robux," which can be purchased with real-world money.[2]

Roblox is rated by major video game content boards for different age groups. The European PEGI system classifies Roblox as “parental guidance recommended,” noting that the platform hosts millions of user-generated games and content, making it difficult to classify as a whole; prior to September 2022, it was rated as “suitable for 7 years and over.”[3] In the United States, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Roblox as “T for Teen,” with the content descriptor “Diverse Content: Discretion Advised.”[4]

Child safety on Roblox involves managing significant risks such as predator grooming,[5] explicit "condo" games,[6] and financial exploitation through the platform's extensive moderation systems and parental controls. To combat these issues, the company has recently implemented stricter age-verification requirements and enhanced oversight tools for parents to better protect the millions of minors using the service.

While these incidents have received media attention, they are extremely rare compared to the millions of users on Roblox, and the platform continues to be widely used without incident.

Reported cases

Victim name(s) Status Victim age & birth Date reported missing Suspect Suspect age & birth Summary
Lunabella Lozano, Kaelani Lozano Found[7] 12 (Lunabella)
14-15[lower-alpha 1] (Kaelani) 		31 January 2026[12][13] Hser Mu Lah Say[11] 17 August 2006 (19)[14] In January 2026,[12] 19-year-old Hser Mu Lah Say[11] was arrested after grooming and kidnapping two sisters from Indiantown, Florida, whom he originally met on Roblox.[12][15] Following an AMBER Alert[16] and their safe recovery in Georgia,[11][17] Say was charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interference with child custody.[11]
Thomas Medlin Missing as of February 2026 15[18][19] 9 January 2026[20][21] Unknown N/A In January 2026, 15-year-old Thomas Medlin[20] went missing after traveling from Long Island to Manhattan,[22][23] with his mother, Eva Yan,[24][25] reporting he likely intended to meet someone he encountered on Roblox.[18][26][27] Medlin was seen on surveillance footage at the Grand Central Station.[28][29] While police confirmed his last known location was the Manhattan Bridge,[30] his last cell phone activity being three minutes after.[31] They have not yet found definitive proof of an online meeting.[30] The disappearance has drawn significant attention, including involvement from investigative journalist Chris Hansen.[32][33] In response to the disappearance of Thomas Medlin, Roblox issued a statement confirming that their internal investigation found no evidence of grooming or off-platform contact sharing on their service, while offering full support to law enforcement's ongoing search.[34]
Jahmez Cartwright Found[35] 18[35] 12 January 2026[36] Unknown N/A In January 2026,[37] Jahmez Cartwright,[36] an 18-year-old from Philadelphia[35] with an intellectual disability,[36] was reported missing and later traced over 2,500 miles away to San Diego.[35][38] His family and the Black and Missing Foundation alleged he was lured online by an older man he met through Roblox,[36][38][39] prompting the company to cooperate with a multi-agency investigation.[36] Though Cartwright was eventually located safe,[38] the case remains under investigation to determine the specific role the platform and the unidentified individual played in his disappearance.
Unknown Found[40] 10[40][41] 13 April 2025[41] Matthew Macatuno Naval[41] 27[41] In April 2025, 27-year-old Matthew Macatuno Naval[41] was arrested and charged with kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct after allegedly grooming[42] a 10-year-old girl[40] on Roblox and Discord.[43][44] Following her safe recovery, the girl's family filed a lawsuit against both platforms,[41] alleging their negligent designs prioritize profit over protecting children from online predators.[43]
Unknown Found[45] 13[45] Unknown Unknown Unknown In October 2025, Arizona lawmakers helped locate a 13-year-old girl who was abducted by an adult she met on Roblox and transported to Idaho. The case was highlighted by Attorney General Kris Mayes to secure $300,000 in state funding to combat internet crimes against children and support lawsuits targeting the platform's safety measures.[45]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources report the age as 14,[8][9] while others list it as 15.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ Yaden, Joseph (2020-05-03). "What is Roblox?". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  2. ↑ Coulter, Natalie (2024-07-01). "The growing influence of virtual gaming platforms like Roblox on how we interact online". The Conversation. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  3. ↑ Kou, Yubo; Hernandez, Rie Helene; Gui, Xinning (25 April 2025). ""The System is Made to Inherently Push Child Gambling in my Opinion": Child Safety, Monetization, and Moderation on Roblox". ACM Digital Library. doi:10.1145/3706598.3713170. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  4. ↑ ESRB, Patricia E. Vance, President (2025-08-06). "What Parents Need To Know About Roblox". ESRB Ratings. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  5. ↑ "Roblox Accused Of Allowing Sexual Exploitation In Four Separate Lawsuits". Aftermath. 2025-06-25. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  6. ↑ Zhang, Zinan; Moradzadeh, Sam; Gui, Xinning; Kou, Yubo (15 October 2024). "Harmful Design in User-Generated Games and its Ethical and Governance Challenges: An Investigation of Design Co-Ideation of Game Creators on Roblox". ACM Digital Library. doi:10.1145/3677076. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  7. ↑ "New details in Florida Roblox kidnapping case". NBC News. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Saunders, Angel (2 February 2026). "2 Young Girls Abducted After Being Groomed By Man They Chatted with on Roblox, Police Say". Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Bellinghausen, Grace (2026-02-01). "Indiantown sisters found safe in Georgia after AMBER Alert, suspect in custody". WPEC. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  10. ↑ Gay, Nancy (2026-02-03). "Florida girls kidnapped by man they met on Roblox: MCSO". FOX 13 News. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Lalb, Mason. "Siblings rescued after alleged kidnapping by 19-year-old they met on Roblox". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Perry, Rachael (2026-02-03). "Florida teens rescued after leaving home with man they met on Roblox". WPBF. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  13. ↑ "2 young girls abducted by man they met on Roblox: police". Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. 2026-02-03. Archived from the original on 2026-02-04. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  14. ↑ Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek shares details of the Kidnapping of two Martin County Children (siblings) this past weekend. | Martin County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved 2026-02-05 – via www.facebook.com.
  15. ↑ Greenlee, Will. "'Very sheltered'; new details in reported Roblox, Snapchat kidnapping". Treasure Coast. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  16. ↑ Bellinghausen, Grace (2026-02-01). "Indiantown sisters found safe in Georgia after AMBER Alert, suspect in custody". WPEC. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  17. ↑ Sutton, Scott (2026-02-02). "'We prevented something disastrous': Nebraska man, 19, arrested after missing sisters found safe in Georgia". Wflx.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Boy Missing for 2 Weeks Reportedly Traveled to N.Y.C. to See Someone He Met on Roblox". People.com. Archived from the original on 2026-01-26. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  19. ↑ "LI mom begs missing son to come home following his disappearance in NYC -- after apparently meeting person from Roblox". 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sorace, Stephen (2026-01-25). "New York boy, 15, missing after traveling to NYC to meet someone he met on Roblox, family says". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  21. ↑ Powell, Akim (2026-01-24). "15-year-old boy missing after traveling to meet someone from Roblox, family says". Wtoc.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  22. ↑ Hale, Rachel. "He was 15 and gaming online. Then he disappeared in New York City". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  23. ↑ Staff • •, NBC New York (2026-01-28). "Long Island teen missing for more than 2 weeks after taking train into NYC". NBC New York. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  24. ↑ "Missing Teenage Boy Reportedly Rushed Off To Meet Someone From Roblox". GameSpot. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  25. ↑ "Roblox comments on ongoing missing child case and the statement is, uh, not great". Yahoo News. 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  26. ↑ "Long Island teen missing for more than two weeks after traveling into NYC, police say - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  27. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: St. James family seeks public's help finding missing 15-year-old boy". News 12 - Default. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  28. ↑ Shutler, Ali (2026-01-26). "Roblox deny involvement in missing child case". NME. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  29. ↑ published, Rich Stanton (2026-01-27). "Roblox comments on ongoing missing child case and the statement is, uh, not great". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "New Evidence Shows Boy Who Disappeared After Traveling to N.Y.C. 2 Weeks Ago Was Last Seen on Bridge Over Water". People.com. Archived from the original on 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  31. ↑ Perkins, Jordan; Kaplan, Zach (29 Janaury 2026). "Roblox 'not connected' to disappearance of missing NY teen: Police". News Nation. Retrieved 5 February 2026. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ↑ "Thomas Medlin case: Family shares update amid search for missing Long Island teen, 'We are still trying to figure out…'". Hindustan Times. 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  33. ↑ Chris Hansen (2026-01-28). BREAKING: Teen Missing Since Roblox Meet Up. Retrieved 2026-02-05 – via YouTube.
  34. ↑ Roblox Newsroom, [@RobloxNewsroom] (25 January 2026). "Roblox Newsroom on X: "We are deeply concerned about a report involving a missing child, Thomas Medlin, in New York, and our thoughts are with him and his family."". X. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Scrivens, Kamryn (2026-01-16). "Missing Philadelphia teen located after reported luring to San Diego through Roblox". FOX 29 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 Adams, Abigail (January 16, 2026). "Missing Teen with Intellectual Disability May Have Been 'Lured' Away from Home Through Roblox". People.com. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  37. ↑ Jimenez, Tim (2026-01-15). "West Philly teen with cognitive disorder found days after being reported missing". www.audacy.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 "Missing Philly teen may have been lured to San Diego by man he met on Roblox". FOX 29 Philadelphia. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  39. ↑ "Missing Philadelphia teen located after reported luring to San Diego through Roblox". Yahoo News. 2026-01-16. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 Quinn, Liam (17 April 2025). "Man Allegedly Lured 10-Year-Old Through Roblox. She Was Found in His Car 4 Hours from Home". People.com. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 Riet, Emily Van de (2025-08-11). "Family files lawsuit saying Roblox, Discord failed to protect 10-year-old daughter from being abducted". Cleveland19.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  42. ↑ Riet, Emily Van de (2025-08-11). "Family files lawsuit saying Roblox, Discord failed to protect 10-year-old daughter from being abducted". https://www.wfsb.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05. External link in |website= (help)
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Aron, Hillel (2025-08-05). "Family sues Roblox, Discord over kidnapping of 10-year-old girl". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  44. ↑ "10-year-old girl kidnapped by man she met on Roblox, police say". ABC7 Los Angeles. 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 bblasdell (2025-10-17). "Lawmakers help locate child abducted via Roblox | Arizona Capitol Times". Retrieved 2026-02-05.


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