At a Glance
- 18-year-old Jahmez Cartwright vanished en route to school on January 12, 2026
- His phone pinged 3,000 miles away in San Diego the next day
- Family says an older man met him through a gaming app and is holding him
- Why it matters: A teen with the mental capacity of a child is missing across the country, and relatives fear online predators
An 18-year-old Philadelphia student with a cognitive disorder has disappeared, and his family believes an adult he met on a gaming app tricked him into traveling to California and is now detaining him against his will.
Jahmez Cartwright, whose condition gives him the mental age of a minor, was last seen Monday morning heading to school from the 6500 block of Linmore Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. He never arrived, and the school’s attendance call set off panic at home.
The Disappearance
Cartwright left for class as usual on January 12, 2026. When the school alerted relatives that he had not shown up, they knew something was wrong.
“I am just heart token because he has never done anything like this,” said Stacey Crocker, Cartwright’s grandmother. “I just pray that he makes it back home safely.”
Within 24 hours, investigators traced Cartwright’s cell-phone signal to San Diego, California, even though relatives say he carries no identification and has never left Philadelphia before.
Family’s Theory
Relatives told News Of Philadelphia they discovered Cartwright had been messaging one particular adult on a popular online-gaming platform.
“He has been communicating with a specific person that we feel may have lured him out of the city,” said Aisha Green, Cartwright’s cousin. “He has never been outside Philly. He has no income.”
They believe that individual persuaded the teen to travel across the country and is now preventing him from returning.
Mother’s Agony
Cartwright’s mother, hospitalized with stress-induced chest pains, spoke to News Of Philadelphia by FaceTime.
“I don’t know if he has anywhere to sleep tonight,” she said.
Plea for Help
Relatives are asking anyone who has seen Cartwright or has information on his whereabouts to contact Philadelphia police immediately.
“If there is someone who has our cousin holding him without will, we won’t stop,” Green said. “You know, we miss him. He belongs to us, not you.”
Black and Missing Foundation Steps In
The Black and Missing Foundation, a nonprofit that assists families of missing people of color, is working with Cartwright’s loved ones.
Co-founder Natalie Wilson warned that predators increasingly use social media and gaming apps to target vulnerable minors.
“We’re trying to protect children from predators,” Wilson said. “They know what to say. They know how to prey upon those who are most vulnerable in our community.”
She urged parents to monitor children’s online contacts closely.
“We need to stop just being our children friends and have those tough conversations,” Wilson said. “See who they are communicating with online. And we ask parents all the time to create a fictitious account, and see if you can befriend your child, and see if they will share information with you.”
What Happens Next
Philadelphia detectives continue to follow leads, while Cartwright’s family vows to keep searching until he is found.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Department.
Key Takeaways
- Cartwright’s phone placed him in San Diego one day after he left for school
- Relatives say he functions at the level of a young child and cannot survive alone
- The family believes an adult he met online orchestrated the cross-country trip
- The Black and Missing Foundation is assisting with publicity and resources
