Flying from Philadelphia to California to Meet Victim
An 18-year-old man from Bangor, Pennsylvania, was arrested at a motel in Castaic, California, after allegedly flying from Philadelphia to meet and abuse a 13-year-old girl he met online, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
The suspect, Matthew Edward Pysher, faces charges of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. His initial appearance is expected to take place at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles.
Victim's Mother Discovers Messages
According to authorities, the incident began when the victim's mother discovered messages on her daughter's phone and reported them to law enforcement. In the exchanges, the suspect allegedly encouraged the girl to self-harm and send explicit images. The girl later left home, leaving behind a suicide note, prompting an urgent search by authorities.
Arrest at Castaic Motel
On Friday evening, federal agents tracked the suspect to a motel in Castaic, where they found him with the victim in the room. At the scene, authorities recovered a knife, razor blades, lubricant, blood-stained tissues, and an airplane boarding pass from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
Ties to Extremist Network '764'
Los Angeles federal prosecutor Bill Essayli stated that the suspect is connected to an online network called "764," described as an extremist online community targeting minors. Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, noted that the FBI is investigating over 450 similar online network cases nationwide.
This arrest comes less than a week after another suspect in the Los Angeles area was apprehended on charges of coercing minors to create and send explicit content. Federal officials warn that online predators continue to target children through chat rooms, video games, and social media, urging parents to monitor their children's devices and report suspicious activity to authorities.
