Feds say man groomed 13-year-old to engage in self-harm online and lured her to L.A. motel for sex - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
by Brittny MejiaFebruary 23, 2026
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Federal authorities have arrested an 18-year-old man from Pennsylvania, Matthew Edward Pysher, who is accused of grooming a 13-year-old girl online and luring her to a Los Angeles motel for sexual exploitation. According to the criminal complaint, Pysher met the victim on a Discord server intended for individuals with mental health struggles and allegedly manipulated her into sending explicit material and engaging in self-harm. After traveling from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, authorities rescued the girl during a raid at a Castaic motel, where they found condoms, a knife, lubricant, razor blades, and other items linked to his alleged crimes.
Pysher has been charged with "travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct," a serious federal offense that carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Investigators believe Pysher is connected to nihilistic violent extremist groups, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described as a growing threat to American families. These groups, often operating online, target children and spread chaos and instability, with reports indicating hundreds of minor victims worldwide. Pysher’s case highlights the disturbing trend of individuals using the internet to groom and exploit minors, including coercing them into self-harm and creating explicit content.
The FBI is investigating over 450 similar cases nationwide, emphasizing the alarming rise in such activities. This case comes just a week after another suspect, Bryant Najera Gonzalez, was arrested in California for coercing minors into
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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/23/2026