Update: SPOnG has heard back from Jack Thompson. His response reads: "We have found his son. He is with gamers in Illinois. I was right."

Whether a 20 year-old man going to play video games with friends is necessarily bad or destructive behaviour, or proof of addiction, is a question SPOnG will leave open. What part Mr Thompson had to play in helping the family we are yet to hear.


The family of a missing North American MMO fan has enlisted the help of anti-gaming crusader Jack Thompson. It's been more than a week since Minnesota man Jacob Pribyl was last seen.

Pribyl, 20, "was so consumed by the computer he couldn't get off to eat" according to his mother, Debbie. On January 4th he was taken to Forest Lake’s Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, where he was studying, by his parents. He said he was going to meet a friend and hasn't been heard from since.

Pribyl's parents are concerned that he may have gone to meet a fellow gamer who's less well-meaning than their online identity might suggest.

As Pribyl is an adult and there is no evidence to suggest a crime was committed the police are unable to help. Having spoken to Pribyl's cell-phone provider and not gotten any information his parents turned to US attorney Jack Thompson.

Thompson, as ever, had some choice comments on the nature of the disappearance. He said that it's not uncommon for MMOs to prompt people to leave their jobs or their families. He went on to state:



Just how Thompson is going to help the family is unclear - SPOnG has contacted Mr Thompson to query this but has had no response as yet.

Do you have experience of anyone going missing as a result of MMOs? Let SPOnG know in the Forum.


Source: Kare 11