Nebraska Man Faces Kidnapping Charges After Alleged Roblox Grooming of Florida Sisters
In a disturbing case highlighting online dangers, a 19-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been accused of driving over 1,500 miles to abduct two young sisters from Florida after allegedly grooming them for months through the popular gaming platform Roblox. Hser Mu Lah Say stands charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interference with child custody following a dramatic multi-state police operation.
The Alleged Grooming and Abduction
According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, investigators believe Say first connected with 12-year-old Lunabella Lozano and 14-year-old Kaelani Star Lozano from Indiantown, Florida, during the summer of 2025 via Roblox. The communication reportedly continued on Snapchat, where Say is alleged to have engaged in what authorities describe as a deliberate grooming process.
"In the communications that we did see, there was romantic conversation, nothing sexually explicit that we found yet, but keep in mind, there's a lot of work to be done," Sheriff Budensiek stated during a press conference on Monday. The suspect allegedly gained the children's trust by sending gifts and food to their home, building a relationship that culminated in a planned meeting.
The Disappearance and Multi-State Manhunt
The sisters went missing at approximately 5 pm on Saturday after earlier attempts to meet Say at a local park were thwarted by a family member. Concerned relatives alerted police around 8 pm, identifying Say as the likely culprit. Authorities examined the girls' devices, discovering deleted Snapchat conversations that were recovered and revealed Say's plans to transport them from Florida.
"At that point, our deputies on scene realized what we were dealing with," Budensiek explained. "We were dealing with a type of abduction. I know these girls went willingly, but their age suggests that they had been taken and were probably being removed from our area."
A coordinated alert was issued to law enforcement agencies across multiple states, describing Say's black Honda. Just after midnight, the Georgia Highway Patrol stopped the vehicle, safely recovering the children and taking Say into custody. Police are now pursuing extradition to Florida.
Platform Responses and Safety Concerns
The incident has prompted strong reactions from the social media and gaming platforms involved. Roblox issued a statement confirming they are investigating the deeply troubling incident and will fully support law enforcement. The company emphasised its robust safety policies, advanced safeguards monitoring for harmful content, and recent implementation of age-appropriate chat features as of January 7.
Roblox has faced previous legal scrutiny, including subpoenas from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in October following multiple reports of grooming activity on the platform. A Snapchat spokesperson expressed sympathy for the affected family and highlighted their commitment to combating child exploitation, noting continuous adaptation of safety strategies in response to evolving criminal tactics.
Broader Implications for Online Safety
Sheriff Budensiek used the case to reiterate warnings about vigilance regarding grooming and social media. "We talk regularly about parents and family members being vigilant about grooming and social media platforms," he said. "In this case, I think we prevented something disastrous."
The rescue of the Lozano sisters underscores the persistent risks children face in digital environments, despite platform safety measures. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for ongoing education, parental supervision, and collaborative efforts between tech companies and law enforcement to protect vulnerable users from predatory behaviour online.
