Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Assumption University Students Charged In Violent “Catch A Predator” TikTok Scheme
9

Assumption University Students Charged In Violent “Catch A Predator” TikTok Scheme

Assumption University Students Charged In Violent “Catch A Predator” TikTok SchemeAssumption University Students Allegedly Staged Predator Ambush Inspired By TikTok TrendGroup Of College Students Faces Charges After Staging TikTok Predator Trap For SoldierGroup Of College Students Allegedly Staged Predator Ambush Inspired By TikTok TrendYouths Accused Of Setting TikTok Predator Trap For Soldier Face Kidnapping ChargesMassachusetts Youths Allegedly Trap Military Soldier In “To Catch a Predator” Staged EventStudents Accused Of Luring On-Duty Soldier In “To Catch a Predator”-Inspired TikTok PlotAssumption University Students Face Charges After Staging TikTok Predator Trap For SoldierSix Students Accused Of Luring And Kidnapping Service Member In Viral TikTok-Inspired SchemeCollege Students Charged With Kidnapping Soldier Amid “To Catch a Predator” TikTok Trend
ADVERTISEMENT

Six students were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy after allegedly luring an active-duty service member to their campus in a violent, staged “To Catch a Predator”-inspired TikTok plot.

The students from Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, used a dating app to trick the soldier in October 2024.

Kelsy Brainard, 18, Easton Randall, 19, Kevin Carroll, 18, Isabella Trudeau, 18, and Joaquin Smith, 18, appeared at their arraignment for conspiracy and kidnapping charges on Thursday (January 16).

RELATED:

    Six teenage students were charged after carrying out a TikTok-inspired plot

    Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (Not the actual photo)

    The group of youths is reportedly accused of using Kelsy’s Tinder account to lure their 22-year-old victim to the private Roman Catholic school.

    The sixth student involved in the alleged crime, a minor, was arraigned in juvenile court, The New York Post reported on Friday (January 17).

    The victim reportedly told police that he was in the area for his grandmother’s funeral and was on the dating app because he “just wanted to be around people that were happy.”

    Image credits: IMDb

    As per The Post, Kelsy was consequently accused of walking the unidentified service member down to a basement lounge, where a group of students came out and allegedly grabbed their victim and stopped him from leaving.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “A group of people came out of nowhere and started calling him a pedophile,” the Associated Press reported, citing a campus police report.

    A Tinder account was used to lure the victim

    Image credits: NEWS CENTER Maine

    The students reportedly accused the soldier of wanting to have sex with 17-year-old girls.

    In Massachusetts, the legal age of consent is 16 years old, meaning individuals aged 16 or older can legally engage in consensual sexual activity, Nate Amendola Defense explains.

    Therefore, a 22-year-old and a 17-year-old can legally have sexual relations under Massachusetts law.

    Image credits: NEWS CENTER Maine

    However, Massachusetts does not have a “Romeo and Juliet” law, which in some states provides legal protections for consensual sexual activity between minors that are close in age, according to Riccio Law.

    This means that while a 17-year-old can legally consent to sex with an older individual, those under 16 cannot legally consent to sexual activity, regardless of the age of their partner, as per The Fernandez Firm.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: NEWS CENTER Maine

    Upon being ambushed, the serviceman reportedly managed to break free from the basement but was allegedly chased back to his car by approximately 25 people, most of whom recorded the chase with their phones, The Post reported.

    The soldier ended up being punched by one of the students and eventually fled before calling the police to report the alleged assault.

    The victim reportedly said the person who punched him in the head was a juvenile who was already known to police.

    The victim was yelled at by the group of students and labeled a “pedophile”

    Image credits: Craig F. Walker/Getty Images

    Nevertheless, Kelsy also filed a police report claiming there was a sexual predator on campus, and she was frightened, in addition to alleging that one of her male friends chased the soldier, who was labeled an “uninvited guest,” according to The Post.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Campus video has since confirmed that Kelsy led the solider into the building who was seen running from a group of students shortly after, including her, all with their cell phones, WWLP reported on Friday.

    “The interaction depicted in the footage occurs from start to finish in 2.35 minutes and does not appear to be a random occurrence but a deliberately staged event,” Worcester police said in a report.

    All of the students were below the age of 20

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Craig F. Walker/Getty Images

    In the case’s court documents, Worcester police further revealed that after a review of the footage, it was determined that the report filed by Kelsy was allegedly false and led police to believe a sexual predator was on campus.

    Furthermore, a review of Kelsy’s Tinder profile, which indicates she was 18 years old, showed messages between her and the victim that police believe did not indicate he was looking for underage girls to meet.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: KKTV

    Police also found that a small portion of the students’ group allegedly conspired to lure the victim and solicited assistance through texts about “catching a predator,” an incident meant to emulate a TikTok trend, WWLP reported.

    The TikTok “catching a predator” trend involves individuals or groups creating staged scenarios to confront alleged sexual predators, often recording and posting the encounters online. 

    Inspired by shows like To Catch a Predator, participants typically use fake online profiles to lure targets into meeting and then ambush them with accusations of predatory behavior.

    “Hello prison. Goodbye future,” read one of the comments

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Share on Facebook
    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Read less »
    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Lei RV

    Lei RV

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »

    Lei RV

    Lei RV

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Pencil
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Forget for a minute how stupid this is and think about the intentional cruelty. They KNEW he wasn't seeking a minor and their plan was to have him arrested and sent to prison for it anyway. He wasn't even a human being to them. Just a prop in their craven lust for internet fame. Absolutely sickening. I hope they all get therapy. In prison.

    Taibhse Sealgair
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People who file false police reports, accuse others of being criminals, lie about crimes that never happened should get the maximum punishment of the alleged crime as punishment. Ten years for being a predator? Ten years each for these idiots.

    Load More Replies...
    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You *are* aware there are other social media platforms, right? They’d fill the void if TikTok actually goes away. People will simply migrate to one of those, not to mention devs are prolly working on new TikTok-alikes as we type.

    Load More Replies...
    Jessica SpeLangm
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "The TikTok “catching a predator” trend involves individuals or groups creating staged scenarios to confront alleged sexual predators, often recording and posting the encounters online." TikTok can't be banned soon enough. Who's the idiot that thought this was a good idea? And to do it to a SOLDIER of the US military? These kids need to go to jail for a while to get the stupid knocked out of them.

    WonderWoman
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can't blame TikTok. Stupid people have existed before TikTok and stupid people will exist after. The ONLY ones to blame are these MONSTERS who wanted to create a situation where they could assault another person in hopes that the victim would also GO TO JAIL.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Pencil
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Forget for a minute how stupid this is and think about the intentional cruelty. They KNEW he wasn't seeking a minor and their plan was to have him arrested and sent to prison for it anyway. He wasn't even a human being to them. Just a prop in their craven lust for internet fame. Absolutely sickening. I hope they all get therapy. In prison.

    Taibhse Sealgair
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People who file false police reports, accuse others of being criminals, lie about crimes that never happened should get the maximum punishment of the alleged crime as punishment. Ten years for being a predator? Ten years each for these idiots.

    Load More Replies...
    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You *are* aware there are other social media platforms, right? They’d fill the void if TikTok actually goes away. People will simply migrate to one of those, not to mention devs are prolly working on new TikTok-alikes as we type.

    Load More Replies...
    Jessica SpeLangm
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "The TikTok “catching a predator” trend involves individuals or groups creating staged scenarios to confront alleged sexual predators, often recording and posting the encounters online." TikTok can't be banned soon enough. Who's the idiot that thought this was a good idea? And to do it to a SOLDIER of the US military? These kids need to go to jail for a while to get the stupid knocked out of them.

    WonderWoman
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can't blame TikTok. Stupid people have existed before TikTok and stupid people will exist after. The ONLY ones to blame are these MONSTERS who wanted to create a situation where they could assault another person in hopes that the victim would also GO TO JAIL.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda