Jan 16, 2025
WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP) - Six Assumption University students were in court on Thursday to face charges in a connection made between a Holyoke woman and a man on Tinder, which resulted in a TikTok plot to confront a falsely accused sexual predator. 22News obtained the court documents that state on October 2nd, Assumption University Police reviewed an incident from Worcester Police of an assault and battery report made by a student, Kelsy Brainard. The statement of facts from Worcester District Court said a man came to campus and made Brainard feel "creepy". She texted her friend, Easton Randall who she said chased the man off campus. In the report, Brainard claimed she did not solicit contact with the man on Tinder and he came to the campus on October 1st at around 10:30 p.m. uninvited. University officers could not locate the man on campus. Five Worcester students charged after mob beats up falsely accused child predator However, Worcester police said they were with a man requiring assistance with an incident that happened at Assumption University. The man who 22News will identify as the victim, told police that he was in the area to attend a funeral and wanted to be around happy people. The victim confirmed he was in contact with Brainard on Tinder and she allegedly invited him to the campus. In the report, he said he was led into a building by Brainard before he was ambushed by a group of people. It is alleged that a group of people came out of nowhere calling him a pedophile accusing him of having sex with 17-year-old girls. The group allegedly grabbed him to prevent him from leaving. He was able to break free and run, being chased by approximately 25 people. He told police that he was chased to his car, punched in the back of his head and his vehicle kicked by the group. The victim was able to leave the campus and called the police. Campus video confirms Brainard led the victim into the building and shortly after was seen running from a group of students, including Brainard with all with their cell phones out in what appears to be recording, the report says. The footage in what police say indicates the group was staged and or awaiting the arrival of the victim before the mob formed around him. "The interaction depicted in the footage occurs from start to finish in 2.35 minutes and does not appear to be a random occurrence but a deliberately stage event," in the report by Worcester police. In the court documents, Worcester police say that after a review of the footage, it was determined that the report filed by Brainard was allegedly false and led police to believe a sexual predator was on campus. A review of Brainard's Tinder profile, which indicates she was 18 years old, had messages between her and the victim that police believe did not indicate he was not looking for underage girls to meet. During additional interviews, police determined a small portion of the larger mob group allegedly conspired to lure the victim and solicited assistance through texts in "catching a predator", an incident to simulate a TikTok fad. Police identified Kelsy Brainard, Kevin Carroll, Easton Randall, Isabella Trudeau, Joaquin Smith, and a juvenile as the group of Assumption University students involved in the plot. Kelsy Brainard, an 18-year-old from Holyoke, Mass., was charged with kidnapping, witness intimidation, and conspiracy. Kevin Carroll, an 18-year-old from Holden, Mass., was charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Easton Randall, a 20-year-old from Jericho, Vermont, was charged with kidnapping and conspiracy. Isabella Trudeau, an 18-year-old from Sterling, Mass., was charged with kidnapping and conspiracy. Joaquin Smith, a 19-year-old from West Haven, Conn., was charged with kidnapping and conspiracy. Juvenile, identity and charges not released due to their age. The person described by the victim who hit him in the head was identified as a juvenile who is known to police. The person who allegedly slammed the victim's head into the door was identified as Kevin Carroll. Local News Headlines Springfield Boys and Girls Club raises over $300,000 in Festival of Trees event Healey expands scope of Massachusetts shelter law shakeup Multiple crews worked to put out a shed fire in Russell Springfield nonprofit recognizes Monson Savings Bank with certificate of appreciation WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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