Chilean man groomed 13-year-old girl on Roblox before flying to U.S. to meet her, police say
A 21-year-old Chilean man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday after officials say he developed an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl he met virtually on Roblox and flew to the U.S. to meet her.
Daniel Aravena Oliva “spent several months manipulating and grooming” the 13-year-old victim through online platforms before he was arrested on suspicion of child exploitation and the production of child pornography, the Glendora Police Department said in a Facebook post. Lt. Matt Fenner, a spokesperson for the agency, said Oliva is now also facing federal charges in the case.
Oliva initially contacted the girl through Roblox, the extremely popular online game platform, Fenner said.
“He coaxed her off of that to somewhere he could speak more freely,” Fenner said. They eventually communicated on Zoom as well as other online platforms, he said.
Experts say parents should be having conversations with children and teens early and often about internet safety. The tragedy in Riverside can be a cautionary tale.
On Wednesday morning, Oliva arrived at LAX “with the intent of exploiting a minor,” police said. He had booked an Airbnb close to the child’s home and had arranged to meet her in person, officials said.
Glendora police detectives worked with Homeland Security Investigations on the case. Tips about keeping children safe online from the National Children Advocacy Center can be found here.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
