WAYNE, NJ – A shocking incident has unfolded in New Jersey, where an 11-year-old girl was allegedly abducted by a man she met on Roblox, an online gaming platform, according to local law enforcement. The girl, hailing from Wayne, was reported missing from her residence on the 10th of September, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes confirmed.
The alarm was raised at 6:45 a.m. from the intersection of Route 46 and Old Turnpike Road in Wayne, as per a statement from Valdes and Wayne Police Chief Jack McNiff. The diligent efforts of the Wayne police led to the girl’s discovery a short while later, some 135 miles away in Bear, a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware, McNiff and Valdes reported.
The accused, Darius Matylewich, a 27-year-old resident of Bear, is believed to have initiated contact with the girl while they were both active on Roblox. This platform provides users the opportunity to create their own games and engage in games created by others. Matylewich now faces charges of kidnapping and child endangerment.
Investigative efforts revealed that Matylewich had encountered the victim during an online gaming session and subsequently transported her from Wayne, New Jersey, to Bear, Delaware, without the consent or knowledge of her parents, the statement detailed. Matylewich, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 209 pounds, could be looking at a 30-year prison sentence if convicted of the kidnapping charge. He was extradited to New Jersey and is currently held at the Bergen County Jail.