Pennsylvania man accused of assaulting SoCal girl as part of extremist online group

A local 13-year-old girl was rescued from a Pennsylvania man who allegedly found her online and targeted her as part of a cult, flying cross-country to commit horrific acts of violence against the teen girl.

The life-saving operation involving local and federal law enforcement rescued the girl from a Castaic motel room on Friday. Authorities said the teenage girl from Northridge was with an 18-year-old man who is tied to a violent extremist group that allegedly coerces and manipulates children into horrific acts.

The girl was reportedly on the verge of suicide.

First assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called it “one of the most twisted and disturbing ideas to crawl out of the internet.”

Court documents say Matthew Pysher began messaging the girl on Discord two months ago, finding her on a server about mental health.

Read more: ABC 7