Santa Ana Man Arrested for Kidnapping Teen from Fortnite

Parents must be vigilant about their children's online safety, especially in gaming environments.

News Summary

A 19-year-old man from Santa Ana was arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old girl he met on Fortnite. The girl was reported missing for two days before authorities located them together in Bakersfield. The suspect, Sergio Estrada, had been communicating with her online for two years. After his arrest, the girl was safely returned to her parents. Further investigations are ongoing and additional charges are likely as the case unfolds.

Santa Ana Man Arrested for Kidnapping 14-Year-Old Girl He Met on Fortnite in Bakersfield

A 19-year-old man named Sergio Estrada from Santa Ana, California, was arrested early in the morning on June 11, 2025, for allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old girl whom he met through the popular online gaming platform Fortnite. Kern County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a missing minor in east Bakersfield, leading to Estrada’s apprehension.

The police were alerted around 3 a.m. to the situation, as the girl had been missing since 4 p.m. on June 9. Concern grew when the girl’s mother revealed she feared that her daughter may have formed a romantic relationship with an older man, specifically referring to Estrada, who had been communicating with the girl for approximately two years through various social media platforms.

Authorities believed that Estrada may have fled with the juvenile back to his home in Santa Ana. However, detectives successfully located both Estrada and the girl near an apartment complex in east Bakersfield, where they were found walking together. Fortunately, the girl was successfully returned to her parents following the arrest of Estrada.

Estrada was taken into custody based on an active Ramey warrant for kidnapping. Additional charges are anticipated as investigators continue to delve deeper into the case. A court hearing for Estrada is set to take place in the near future, although specific details regarding the date have not yet been disclosed.

The authorities are also urging anyone with additional information regarding this incident to reach out and contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110.

Related Incident in Elk Grove

In a separate yet similar case, a 27-year-old man named Matthew Macatuno Naval from Elk Grove is also in the news following an alleged kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl he reportedly met while playing Roblox. Naval asserts that he had no sexual motives towards the child and claims he believed she was 18 years old. His defense is that he traveled to Kern County to help the girl escape what he described as a troubling home environment.

Naval was arrested along with the girl at an Elk Grove strip mall after authorities initiated a search based on a missing child report. He is currently held on a bail amount of $1.35 million and faces serious charges, including kidnapping and child sex crimes. His next court appearance is scheduled for late June.

These incidents highlight ongoing concerns regarding the safety of minors on social media and gaming platforms, where potential risks may arise from interactions with older individuals. Parents are encouraged to monitor their children’s online activities and engage in conversations about safe internet practices.