Man accused of raping 2 girls he met on Snapchat arrested

GREENSBURG, Pa. — State police have arrested a man they say raped a young girl he met online and her friend.

Troopers said 20-year-old Kilian Thomas met the victims 11- and 13-year-old victims on the popular social media app Snapchat.

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Thomas is facing charges including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors.

Thomas said the victims lied about their ages, but that’s not what police said happened. Investigators said he had conversations with them and arranged to meet both victims at 11 p.m.

Thomas picked the girls up in Unity Township, drove to a location near a barn and then had sex with them in the back of his white Jeep multiple times, according to a criminal complaint.

State troopers said Thomas then took the girls back to their houses and drop them off.

The 13-year-old told her parent about what happened, which is how police found out.

How to protect your children

Ryan Klingensmith, a licensed professional counselor, founded Shape the Sky. It’s essentially a one-stop shop for parents.

He told Channel 11 parents should know how these apps function, but he said what is most important is knowing your child’s behavior. One way to do that? Follow your child on Snapchat.

“There are parental settings on there, but with any your average child is going to be able to figure out how to turn those off,” Klingensmith said.

Another thing parents should know about is that there are apps children and teens use to hide what they are doing on their phones. One tool looks like a calculator, but it’s not. A quick passcode takes you to hidden photos and videos.

Click here for a social media resource guide for adults.

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