Philly teen with cognitive disorder goes missing on Monday walk to school

Family members of a missing 18-year-old living with a cognitive disorder say they believe an older man lured him through a popular online gaming app and is holding him against his will.

Jahmez Cartwright, whose disorder causes him to have the mind of a minor, was last seen on his way to school on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, at the 6500 block of Linmore Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

Cartwright’s family said they knew something was wrong when the school called and said he never made it to class.

“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.”

Detectives confirmed to NBC10 that Cartwright’s cell phone pinged to San Diego, California, the day after he went missing, even though his family said he doesn’t have an ID.

“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.”

NBC10 also spoke to Cartwright’s mother via FaceTime. She is in the hospital with chest pains due to the stress of the situation.

“I don’t know if he has anywhere to sleep tonight,” she said.

The family is urging anyone with useful information to reach out to Philadelphia police, and they say they will never give up looking for Cartwright.

“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.”

The family has also received help from the the Black and Missing Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to help protect people from predators.

“We’re trying to protect children from predators,” said Natalie Wilson, the co-founder of the organization. “They know what to say. They know how to prey upon those who are most vulnerable in our community.”

Wilson said social media and gaming apps have become the perfect place for predators looking to lure minors.

“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.”