At a Glance
- Jahmez Cartwright, 18, has been located days after vanishing on his way to school
- Family believes an older man contacted him through a gaming app and enticed him away
- Philadelphia police, the Black and Missing Foundation, and neighbors coordinated search
- Why it matters: The case spotlights how predators can use everyday gaming platforms to target vulnerable teens
An 18-year-old Philadelphia student with a cognitive disorder is safe with relatives after disappearing earlier this week, according to the Black and Missing Foundation.
How the Disappearance Unfolded
Cartwright’s family grew alarmed Monday morning when Overbrook High School called to say he had never arrived for classes. The teen, who functions at a younger developmental age, left home on the usual route but never made it through the front doors.
Surveillance footage reviewed by relatives shows Cartwright walking alone shortly after 7 a.m., then vanishing from view three blocks from campus. No one reported seeing him again until Wednesday evening.
Gaming App Connection
Investigators told News Of Philadelphia that Cartwright’s phone records reveal repeated messages from an unidentified adult male on a popular multiplayer gaming platform. The man allegedly:
- Praised Cartwright’s gameplay and offered tips
- Sent gift cards to buy in-game upgrades
- Suggested they “hang out” in person after learning the teen lived nearby
- Arranged to meet near 63rd and Lansdowne the morning Cartwright went missing
Family members say Cartwright, an avid gamer, viewed the stranger as a friend and likely did not recognize the risk.
Community Search Efforts
More than 200 volunteers plastered the West Philadelphia neighborhood with flyers bearing Cartwright’s photo and the foundation’s tip line. Local businesses shared security video, while bus drivers and SEPTA riders scanned each route.
The Black and Missing Foundation, a national nonprofit that spotlights cases involving people of color, amplified the alert through social media and partnered radio stations. Within 48 hours the story reached 1.4 million users online.
Where He Was Found
Police have not disclosed Cartwright’s exact location, saying only that he was recovered “outside Philadelphia” shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. Officers transported him to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for evaluation; relatives say he was dehydrated but had no visible injuries.
Detectives interviewed the teen Thursday morning and are now tracking the adult male who communicated with him. No charges have been announced.
Family Statement
Cartwright’s relatives issued a brief message through the foundation:
“I would like to thank the Philadelphia media, law enforcement agencies, The Black and Missing Foundation, and members of the community, as they rallied around me and my family as we searched for Jahmez. Because of your collective efforts, Jahmez has been located. As our family continues to work with law enforcement surrounding the details of his disappearance, we will share any information as we learn more details.”
What’s Next
Special-victims detectives are examining Cartwright’s gaming console, phone, and the account that contacted him. The district attorney’s office will decide whether any state or federal statutes were violated once that review is complete.
School district officials, meanwhile, plan to re-examine how students with cognitive disabilities are supervised during commutes.
Key Takeaways
- Predators can embed themselves in everyday gaming communities popular with teens
- Families of cognitively disabled young adults face unique safety challenges once traditional school supports end
- Rapid coordination between police, nonprofits, and neighbors can produce quick results in missing-person cases
