HOUSTON, Texas — A YouTube star accused of abducting two women and threatening to kill them is back in custody in Texas after fleeing to Qatar late last year, according to prosecutors.
Corey Pritchett Jr., 26, a Houston-based content creator with 15 million followers across social media platforms, faces two charges of aggravated kidnapping stemming from a Nov. 24 incident.
Prosecutors allege Pritchett took the women on a high-speed car ride, threatened them with a gun, and made chilling death threats before releasing them along a highway.
Pritchett was arrested Jan. 17 after arriving at a Houston airport and is being held in the Harris County Jail on a $200,000 bond. Authorities say he previously fled the country and remains a flight risk.
Court records show Pritchett, who has described himself as a self-employed YouTuber, requested a public defender, reporting no income or assets in his financial affidavit.
Violent Incident Details
According to prosecutors, the two victims met Pritchett in person after connecting online. The group worked out at a gym, rode ATVs, and visited a bowling alley before the situation took a dangerous turn.
The women reported that Pritchett began acting erratically, claiming someone was after him and driving over 100 mph westbound on Interstate 10. At one point, he pulled out a gold-colored handgun, fired rounds through the sunroof, and made threats.
“I’m gonna f— y’all and then kill y’all,” Pritchett allegedly said, per court documents. The victims managed to calm him briefly by praying together, but the ordeal escalated.
Prosecutors say Pritchett later stopped along the highway near Sealy, Texas, ordered the women out of the car, and said, “This is your only opportunity.” The women walked for over an hour in the dark before a passing driver stopped to help and alerted authorities.
Tracking Pritchett’s Escape
Investigators used GPS data from a phone app to verify the victims’ account and identified Pritchett through his driver’s license and social media. When they tried to contact him, they discovered his phone was disconnected.
Further investigation revealed that Pritchett had posted online about leaving the U.S. to start a new life in Dubai. The FBI later confirmed he purchased a one-way ticket and fled to Qatar on Dec. 9.
Pritchett’s court appearance Thursday included arguments from prosecutors highlighting his previous flight to avoid prosecution. Despite his $200,000 bond, concerns remain that he could flee again.
This case underscores the risks associated with allowing an unstable and dangerous individual back into the community,
