Corey Pritchett Jr., a Houston-based social media influencer, was arrested Thursday and booked into Harris County Jail after fleeing the country in connection with a kidnapping incident. The 26-year-old is facing two charges of aggravated kidnapping and is being held on a $200,000 bond, according to court records.
A warrant for Pritchett’s arrest was issued following a Nov. 22 encounter in which he allegedly drove two women to a remote area west of Houston, forced them out of his vehicle, and threatened their lives. The women later told police they feared for their safety during the ordeal.
Around the same time, Pritchett posted on TikTok and Instagram announcing plans to leave the country for Dubai. Investigators confirmed that Pritchett flew to Doha, Qatar, with a one-way ticket, based on FBI records.
It remains unclear when or how Pritchett returned to the U.S. If granted bond, he is required to surrender his passport and stay within the Greater Houston area, as stated in court documents. His defense attorney could not be reached for comment.
Pritchett is widely known for his significant following on social media, including nearly 4 million subscribers on his personal YouTube channel and more than 1 million followers on a joint channel with his wife. He frequently shared updates about his music career with his followers.
According to the women, they had met Pritchett hours earlier at a gym in southwest Houston, where he offered them a ride home. However, during the drive, they noticed a sudden shift in his behavior. Pritchett allegedly began driving in the opposite direction of their destination and accelerated to speeds up to 100 mph on Interstate 10.
At one point, Pritchett is said to have pointed a gun at one woman for texting on her phone. He also made a threatening remark in a phone call, suggesting he had the “perfect opportunity” to take the women to a secluded location. After passing a restaurant in Sealy, Pritchett allegedly pulled over and demanded the women exit the vehicle, telling them it would be their final chance.
The women’s accounts were corroborated through cell phone records and location data from the Life 360 app, which investigators used to confirm details of the event.
