A 10-year-old girl from Southern California was safely found on Sunday after being kidnapped by a stranger she had been talking to online. The girl, who was reported missing by her family, was located in Elk Grove, which is hundreds of miles from her home in Kern County. Authorities say she was with 27-year-old Matthew Macatuno Naval, who has been arrested and is facing serious charges, including kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The situation unfolded when the girl’s family reported her missing. After receiving tips from her friends, deputies began to suspect that she had been taken. Investigators discovered that she had been communicating with Naval through Roblox, a popular online gaming platform, and Discord, a messaging app. This information led them to Elk Grove, where they found her.
Local police assisted in the search and located Naval in his car at a strip mall, just hours after the initial report. The girl was taken into protective custody and later reunited with her family.
Naval has been booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail without bail and is awaiting extradition back to Kern County. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of internet safety, urging parents to monitor their children’s online interactions closely. They highlighted that many games and apps come with messaging features that can pose risks similar to those found on social media.
The case serves as a reminder for families to have ongoing conversations about online safety and to be aware of who their children are communicating with online. Anyone with more information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.