He Lied About His Age and His Name: What Jupiter Parents Should Know About How Online Predators Use Snapchat
A Jupiter arrest publicized this week has law enforcement in two counties urging parents to have a direct conversation with their children about a grooming pattern that is more common than most parents realize.
Carlos Diaz-Diaz, 25, was arrested in April after Jupiter Police say he used Snapchat to contact a 15-year-old girl near Abacoa, sold her marijuana, and sexually assaulted her. Investigators now believe he used the same platform to contact additional underage girls in Palm Beach and Martin counties — offering alcohol, vapes, and marijuana as a way to build trust and arrange meetings.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek described the tactic directly: "He's making himself relatable through vapes, through marijuana. He did the same thing — approached her saying he could sell marijuana and vapes, and then worked his way into having a meet."
The suspect allegedly lied about both his age and his name, going by "Chris" on Snapchat.
What parents can do:
- Know who your child is talking to on Snapchat. The app's disappearing messages make it easy for conversations to go unnoticed. Ask your child directly if they've received unsolicited messages from unknown accounts.
- Talk about offers, not just strangers. Predators often build trust by offering something desirable first — in this case, drugs and vapes. Teach kids that any adult offering illegal substances to a minor has an agenda.
- Know the warning signs of grooming. Secrecy about who they're messaging, new gifts or products you didn't buy, unexplained outings, or reluctance to share their phone.
- Report it. If your child has had contact with this individual or a similar situation, contact Jupiter Police Detective Diana Zeitz: 561-741-2426 or 1172@jupiter.fl.us.
If your child needs to talk to someone outside the home, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673.
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