Nebraska Man Charged With Kidnapping Florida Sisters He Met on Roblox; Could the Platform Face Civil Liability?

Authorities have arrested a Nebraska man accused of kidnapping two teenage sisters in Florida after communicating with them on the online gaming platform Roblox, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said Hser Mu Lah Say, 19, was charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interference with child custody. The victims, sisters ages 12 and 14, were last seen in Indiantown on Saturday. A multi-state search involving local, state, and federal agencies followed.

On Sunday, the Georgia Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle believed to be connected to the disappearance. Deputies confirmed the sisters were located safely, and Say was identified as the driver. Sheriff John Budensiek later stated that Say had been communicating with the girls on Roblox since last summer, after which the conversations moved to Snapchat. Authorities allege Say then drove from Nebraska to Florida to take the girls. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

This case has renewed scrutiny on online gaming and social platforms that allow minors to communicate with others. While Roblox has issued a statement saying it is cooperating with law enforcement and highlighting recent safety upgrades—such as age verification for chat features—the company has faced prior lawsuits and investigations alleging that its platform failed to adequately protect minors from grooming and exploitation.

In October 2025, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that criminal subpoenas were issued to Roblox as part of a broader investigation. Roblox has since rolled out mandatory age-estimation checks using facial scans for users seeking access to chat functions, placing minors into age-appropriate communication settings by default.

Can Roblox Be Held Civilly Liable?

Whether Roblox can be held civilly liable depends on several complex legal factors. While criminal responsibility rests with the accused kidnapper, civil liability may extend to third parties—including online platforms—under certain circumstances.

Potential legal theories that may be evaluated include:

• Negligence, if it is alleged the platform failed to take reasonable steps to protect minors despite known risks
• Failure to warn, if known dangers were not adequately disclosed to users or parents
• Product liability or design defect, if platform features allegedly made it easier for predators to contact minors
• Failure to report, where companies are accused of not timely reporting suspected child exploitation

However, online platforms often assert protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally shields companies from liability for third-party content. That protection is not absolute, and courts increasingly examine whether claims are based on platform design decisions or safety failures, rather than user-generated content alone.

Each case turns on specific facts, including what the company knew, what safeguards were in place at the time, how complaints were handled, and whether the platform benefited from continued user engagement despite safety risks.

Legal Options for Families and Victims

Families impacted by crimes involving online platforms may have civil legal options separate from any criminal case. Depending on the facts, civil claims may seek compensation for:

• Emotional trauma and psychological treatment
• Costs related to recovery and counseling
• Pain and suffering
• Other damages allowed under Florida and federal law

Civil cases also serve a broader purpose: forcing accountability and driving systemic safety changes that may help prevent similar harm to other children.

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm, we represent victims and families in complex civil cases involving child exploitation, violent crime, and negligent security or safety failures.

These matters require careful investigation, technical understanding of platform policies, and sensitivity to the trauma involved. We intentionally limit our caseload so clients work directly with experienced attorneys—not case managers—and we are prepared to pursue accountability against individual offenders and, when appropriate, corporate entities.

📞 If your child was harmed after contact through an online platform or you have questions about potential civil claims, contact Flanagan & Bodenheimer for a free, confidential consultation.