WAYNE, NJ – Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a Delaware man in connection with a kidnapping case involving an 11-year-old child from New Jersey.
Darius Matylewich, 27, from Bear, Delaware, was apprehended following a joint investigation by the Wayne Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Matylewich faces charges of first-degree Kidnapping and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
The incident unfolded on September 10, 2023, around 6:45 a.m., when the Wayne Police Department received reports of a missing child near U.S. Route 46 and Old Turnpike Road in Wayne, NJ. The victim was promptly located in Bear, Delaware.
Through their investigation, authorities determined that Matylewich had become acquainted with the child through an online video game. Without the knowledge or consent of her parents, he transported the young girl from Wayne, NJ, to Bear, Delaware. New Castle County police arrested Matylewich on the same day near Berwick Lane and Perth Street in Bear. Following his arrest in Delaware, he was extradited to New Jersey.
If convicted, Matylewich faces a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 30 years for the first-degree Kidnapping charge, with the No Early Release Act mandating at least 85% of the sentence to be served before parole eligibility. The third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge carries a potential sentence of three to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
This case serves as a grave reminder of the potential dangers of online interactions, urging parents and guardians to be vigilant about their children’s online activities.