A 10-year-old child reported missing from Taft, California, was found after being allegedly kidnapped by a 27-year-old man who had been communicating with the child through Roblox and Discord. Matthew Macatuno Naval was charged with kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The child was last seen at home Saturday night and police were contacted the following morning when the child was reported missing. Detectives discovered the communications between the child and Naval and believed he was in the Elk Grove area, over 250 miles away from Taft. Naval was found at a strip mall near his home with the child, with the help of Elk Grove police and the Sacramento news media. The child was temporarily taken into protective custody before being released to family. Naval was transferred to Kern County and a complaint is expected to be filed. Other states, like Florida and New Jersey, have taken action against online platforms like Roblox and Discord to increase child protections. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office reminded the community to monitor their children’s online activities and communication to ensure their safety. Discord and Roblox both stated they are committed to keeping users safe and will cooperate with legal authorities.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
