Missing teen found after she ran away with her 27 year old WoW boyfriend
by Adam Holisky 
Jun 2nd 2008 at 3:30PM
Morgon Douglas Jones, a 27 year old gamer, is going to find himself in a lot of trouble. He ran off with a 14 year old girl he met through WoW. They were found safe in a campground in Franklin County, Washington. We (and several of you commenters) have covered age related issues before: from age restricted servers to youths applying to raiding guilds.I am amazed at some of the creeps who play this game, and Morgon Jones definitely falls into that category. 27 years old and running off with a 14 year old girl he met through the game. It's time for him to get outside and enjoy life while he still can, since hopefully there'll be some good ol' prison time coming his way.
Reader Basic sent us the tip for this story posted on the KTVB.com website, and you can read the full article over there. There is an error in the article however, where the author says WoW is a science fiction based game, when it is actually a fantasy game (unless the author was making a critique on Outlands being too SciFi for the game, but that's highly doubtful and not given at all in the context of the article).
This is also a good time to remind people that protecting your online identity and privacy is important. Jon Eldridge in our Azeroth Security column has a great article about what you can do to protect your online identity - it's something everyone should take a minute to ensure they're doing.
Perhaps in the end stories like this will lead to tighter restrictions on age limits and interactivity based on age in the game. I can't help but think that this could have been avoided if there were tighter controls on teens interacting with adults in the game.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Fugmug Jun 2nd 2008 3:40PM
Awesome!
Just when you think there are less stories in the world for the ignoramus press to hand the public their thoughts for the day when it come to painting WoW players with a broad brush.
Thanks to Moron D. Jones and the press, we're now all going to be considered sexual predators.
Can I get a woot?
Steve Jun 2nd 2008 3:42PM
Woot!
Badger Jun 2nd 2008 3:55PM
Double Woot! Indeed.
Arctor Jun 3rd 2008 12:20AM
It happens more often than you think. My cousin is actually in jail for pretty much the same thing, except with Everquest >_>
Rovec Jun 2nd 2008 3:46PM
It could have been avoided with more restrictions, yes, but I don't think the lack of restrictions is at fault here. There's nothing wrong with teenagers hanging out with adults in WoW and I'd hate to see that put to an end. The one to blame here is the creep involving himself with the teen.
Ralod Jun 2nd 2008 3:57PM
The blame is also on the parents. Who should have been paying attention to the daughter. The pervert is to blame as well, don't get me wrong.
But the parents need to keep track of what their kids are doing. A well adjusted 14 year would would never do something like this. But we all know, the parents will likely blame the game, as much as the guy, because they don't want to risk being blamed for being horrible parents.
I would put money on a lawsuit coming soon.
Bunkai Jun 2nd 2008 4:49PM
Yeah, as a parent of 2 and a player of WoW for over 3 years now, I wholeheartedly agree that the parents are at fault here.
As with 95% of all problem children, it's the parents who are to blame for poor behavior and bad morals.
The parents of today are just not doing their jobs up to par. Everyone is too liberal and just wants to be their son or daughter's best friend... that is NOT the way to properly raise a child. A child can make friends on the own if given proper structure, guidance, and discipline from their parents (not TV, teachers, babysitters, day care, etc.).
darian Jun 2nd 2008 7:23PM
Interestingly enough, you can say the same things about leading guilds.
If you're going to lead a guild/raise a child you have to be prepared to be the bad cop as often as the good cop.
ILikePvPbuthatePvPers Jun 2nd 2008 3:50PM
My cousin plays this game and she just turned 14 two months ago. You fail.
annar Jun 2nd 2008 3:51PM
I sometimes do not get the people who write and fancy such stories.
I am, however, proud that wow-community has not immediately commited judgement
in the comments as it is usually done by the readers of the fine newspaper like the Sun in uk :P.
It may be just about anything, why publish their pictures?
As an european i do not get it.
Now judge me..
Badger Jun 2nd 2008 3:58PM
As for "not passing judgment," I cite the following:
"I am amazed at some of the creeps who play this game, and Morgon Jones definitely falls into that category. 27 years old and running off with a 14 year old girl he met through the game. It's time for him to get outside and enjoy life while he still can, since hopefully there'll be some good ol' prison time coming his way."
I believe you'll want to rethink your statement about how the WOW "Community" does not pass judgment.
George Jun 2nd 2008 6:28PM
Blah blah blah. Why do Europeans feel the need to turn things into a Europe vs US debate all the time?
Ryan Jun 2nd 2008 3:51PM
Smokey?
Arras Jun 2nd 2008 3:51PM
i'm sure that as a 14 this young lady is quite mature for her age, but she is still highly vulnerable (clearly), so her parents should still be actively monitoring her online usage and know who she chats with - the screen names of her friends and have blocking programs installed on the PC.
Sound harsh or draconian? Maybe a bit, but this could have ended much worse than it did.
Graevus Jun 2nd 2008 3:54PM
As a parent, I have a lot of sympathy for the panic and desperation this episode put her family through, and I'm very glad this ended quickly.
As a gamer, how long until we get the "To Catch a Predator: World of Warcraft Edition" special?
Old School Gamer Jun 2nd 2008 5:11PM
How long, you ask? They did it last year...
http://www.wowbash.com/images/1184942986.jpg
Eh? Jun 3rd 2008 3:19AM
ROFL, Old School Gamer......
I LOVED that comment on wowbash!
That was a joke someone played on somebody hitting on their toon.
To Catch a Predator shows the end result on TV, and talks about how they lead up to this point before arresting the person. This was a hilarious way to get back at some weirdo who was annoying them.
Selei Jun 2nd 2008 3:57PM
come on now... the picture is a little tastless, no?
Nerolabs Jun 2nd 2008 3:58PM
And he is probably shocked that she REALLY was a 14 year old girl, rather than someone pretending to be one :)
Taeous Jun 2nd 2008 4:00PM
Hell, he's probably pissed it wasn't another 27-year old boy like himself.