The FBI arrested 18-year-old Matthew Edward Pysher on Feb. 20 after he allegedly flew from Pennsylvania to California to sexually abuse a 13-year-old girl and take part in a planned suicide pact. Investigators say the two met on Discord in December 2025 and that Pysher encouraged the minor to share explicit images and to self-harm. Agents found the girl hiding in a motel bathroom with evidence including a knife, razor blades and bloody tissues; she alleges Pysher cut her forearms, forced intercourse and choked her. Pysher faces a federal charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and the FBI is seeking other potential victims.
FBI Arrests 18-Year-Old Accused Of Cutting, Sexually Abusing 13-Year-Old And Plotting Joint Suicide
Matthew Edward Pysher; Rodeway InnCredit: FBI Los Angeles; Google Maps
The FBI arrested 18-year-old Matthew Edward Pysher on Feb. 20 after agents found him in a California motel room with a 13-year-old girl who alleges he cut and sexually assaulted her and that the pair planned a joint suicide, according to a criminal complaint.
Matthew Edward PysherCredit: FBI Los Angeles
Investigation and Arrest
Federal agents say Pysher flew from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles the morning of Feb. 20. Using location data and motel surveillance, investigators tracked Pysher to a room at the Rodeway Inn Motel in Castaic, roughly 40 miles north of Los Angeles. Inside the room, agents found the minor hiding in a bathroom and recovered a bottle of lubricant, a knife, several razor blades and bloody tissues.
Rodeway Inn in Castaic, CACredit: Google Maps
Allegations
According to the complaint, the victim and Pysher began communicating in December 2025 on the chat platform Discord. Authorities allege he encouraged the girl to send sexually explicit images, urged her to injure herself, and persuaded her to create a Discord server where she would be filmed cutting herself. The victim told investigators that a woman drove her and Pysher to the motel, where Pysher allegedly cut the girl's forearms for about 15 minutes, then forced sexual intercourse and repeatedly choked her until she could not speak.
Charges and Ongoing Probe
Pysher is charged federally with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He has not yet appeared in court and the FBI says the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone who may have been victimized by Pysher to contact the FBI Los Angeles field office.
If You Need Help: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse or is in crisis, text STRENGTH to 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor at the Crisis Text Line.
Note: This article summarizes allegations from a federal criminal complaint. Those accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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