A Memphis man has been charged with several felonies, including especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape, after allegedly using Snapchat to meet and abduct a 13-year-old girl. Breon Collins, 32, was accused of utilizing the app's location feature to track down the teenager's address, and when police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on December 24, they discovered the girl in the back seat of Collins' car, Action News 5 reported.
Following his initial evasion after being approached by Memphis Police, Collins was ultimately found in custody at the Bartlett Jail on January 14 where he faced additional charges including aggravated rape while he tried to run away when officers escorted him to collect his belongings, but he didn't make it far before being subdued, according to a report by FOX13 Memphis. Documents reveal that the victim had been in communication with Collins through Snapchat, believing him to be another juvenile, and it was under this guise that he allegedly later brandished a gun and a knife to intimidate her.
At the time of his court appearance on January 16, Collins was being held on a $200,000 bond, as detailed by the initial reports. The grave nature of the incident has prompted the Memphis Police Department to issue a public statement on Facebook, outlining the importance of online safety and parental vigilance to protect children from online predators. The post, which can be found on the department's official page, emphasizes "talk openly with your children about online safety," and urges parents to stay engaged with their children's online presence and utilize parental control tools, as seen in the social media post highlighted by Memphis Police Department's Facebook.
In the wake of this incident, the girl was able to positively identify Collins in a photo lineup, and he now awaits his next court appearance. For further details on the arrest and tips to safeguard children online, the Memphis Police Department encourages visiting their dedicated page on these safety measures.
