John Jefferson
Inset: Corey Pritchett Jr., who is known as CoreySSG on YouTube (Instagram). Background: Interstate 10 in Houston (KHOU/YouTube).
A YouTube star from Texas is facing aggravated kidnapping charges for abducting two women and taking them on a wild, high-speed car ride on Interstate 10 — during which he threatened the victims with a gun and began praying with them — before dumping the pair off on the shoulder and telling them, “This is your only opportunity.”
Corey Pritchett Jr., 26, of Houston, is accused of fleeing to Qatar after the alleged kidnapping incident, which unfolded on Nov. 24, according to his criminal complaint, which was filed in Harris County and viewed by Law&Crime Monday. The victims were found by deputies with the Waller County Sheriff’s Office near a weigh station off I-10 in the Brookshire area after a local resident saw the women on the side of the road and called 911.
Pritchett, who has over 5 million subscribers across his two YouTube channels — one for his personal videos, @CoreySSG31, and another for family posts with his wife and two children, @Pritchettfamily — allegedly dumped the pair there after meeting them at a Houston-area gym earlier in the day to work out. They also went on an ATV outing together with some friends of his and spent time at a local bowling alley, according to the complaint, before things eventually took a dark turn.
“The complainants noticed that the defendant and his friends begin to act suspicious by constantly looking around and learned that they had an issue with another group that was at the bowling alley,” the complaint says.
Pritchett left the bowling alley for “a lengthy amount of time” and the women allegedly rode with a friend of his to go meet him to retrieve some belongings that they left in Pritchett’s car, according to the complaint. After meeting up with them at a local supermarket, Pritchett offered to give the women a ride home — but something was allegedly off with him.
“Both complainants stated by this point they noticed there was a complete change in behavior in the defendant where he was not the same person as he was earlier that day,” the complaint says. “The defendant then explains to both complainants that he believes someone is after him and that he is accused of setting someone’s car on fire.”
Instead of taking the women home, Pritchett allegedly drove “in the opposite direction” and got onto I-10 going westbound toward San Antonio. He was said to be driving at a high rate of speed. “Both complainants felt [Pritchett] was easily going over 100 mph,” the complaint says. Pritchett allegedly pulled out a “gold colored handgun” while driving from the center console and began waving it out of the sunroof of the vehicle and firing it. The women repeatedly asked to be taken home, but Pritchett allegedly refused.
“Both complainants state that they try to calm the defendant by telling him to pray together in which he agrees to do so and leads the prayer but continues to drive westbound on I-10 at a big rate of speed,” the complaint alleges.
Pritchett allegedly called a female friend while driving with the contact name “Future Wife” using “video chat,” according to police, during which he claimed he was interested in killing the pair and dumping their bodies.
“Both complainants stated the defendant then asked the female caller if he had the perfect opportunity and was driving in the middle of nowhere and no one could hear them scream (speaking of both complainants) and no one could ever find them, should he just go ahead and do it,” the complaint says. “Both complainants stated the unknown female responded with a yes. Both complainants stated they knew at this point the defendant was going to take them in the middle of nowhere and kill them, seeing that he also had a handgun in his possession. Both stated that they feared for their lives.”
At one point, Pritchett allegedly told the women, “I’m going to f— y’all and then kill y’all,” before changing his mind and letting them go, per the complaint. He was allegedly on I-10 traveling east toward Houston when he dropped the women off on the shoulder.
“The defendant drove off leaving them on the highway alone at night at approximately 1:18 a.m.,” the complaint says, citing a screenshot from one of the victim’s phones. “The complainants stated they continued walking on the side of the highway for approximately an hour and tried to flag down drivers.”
On YouTube, Pritchett is known for posting comedic videos, music and lifestyle VLOGs with his family. He has been very vocal about his current situation and charges since being arrested last week, posting across social media about it.
“LETTER TO THE INTERNET it’s finna be a BALL,” Pritchett wrote in a Jan. 4 Instagram post. “You see it say ACCUSED right … Don’t worry lol I’m finna give the Details on here & in the Court of Law. They gone REGRET f—ing with me like I’m just some goofy … Oh And I got the BEST LAWYER IN HOUSTON we on they [A——].”
In a Jan. 5 Instagram post, Pritchett said: “United States … I’m on the way. I have a meeting with Houston.” On Monday, he wrote: “See y’all when I get out … crazy everybody want to see me behind bars for accusations I didn’t do … I know God got me. Love all my supporters. They can’t keep me down!”
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