Creator Drama
YouTubers Arrested Over Abandoned Louisiana Mall Video
Ongoing
Photo: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA, Pexels All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 5 events from Aug 31, 2025 to Aug 20, 2026, drawn from 1 source.
Background
The Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana, permanently closed its doors in 2021 following Hurricane Ida and has since sat vacant, showing serious signs of disrepair including a collapsing roof and a four-foot sinkhole outside.
Local authorities have increasingly raised safety concerns regarding urban exploration, or 'urbex,' in dilapidated regional structures following a series of trespassing incidents and fatal accidents at other abandoned local properties like the Plaza Tower and Market Street Power Plant.
In recent years, Louisiana lawmakers amended state statutes to target individuals who livestream or post video footage of themselves committing criminal acts for notoriety or publicity. Kenner police launched an investigation earlier in 2026 after receiving an anonymous tip regarding a video posted to YouTube featuring an unpermitted tour of the shuttered Esplanade Mall.
The timeline
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Esplanade Mall Urbex Video Posted
Richard Matranga and Stephen Pamaran allegedly posted a video to YouTube showing them exploring the interior of the vacant Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana [1, 3, 4].[2589]
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Warrants Issued for YouTubers
According to court records, local investigators obtained arrest warrants for Richard Matranga and Stephen Pamaran following an anonymous tip and subsequent police investigation into the mall footage [1, 3, 4].[2589]
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Fatal Incident at Plaza Tower
Seventeen-year-old Jacque St. Ann reportedly died after falling from an interior stairwell inside the vacant Plaza Tower in New Orleans while urban exploring, prompting renewed warnings from local police chiefs regarding the dangers of urbex [1, 3, 4].[2589]
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Richard Matranga Turns Himself In
Richard Matranga reportedly turned himself in to Kenner police and was booked on charges of felony unauthorized entry of a business and unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity [1, 3].[2589]
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Richard Matranga Released on Bond
According to court records, Richard Matranga was released from jail after posting a $5,500 bond following his booking [1, 3].[2589]
Frequently asked
Why were the YouTubers arrested?
Richard Matranga and Stephen Pamaran were arrested after police alleged they illegally entered the abandoned Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana, and posted footage of their exploration online, violating both trespassing laws and a state statute targeting the posting of criminal acts for publicity.
What specific charges do the YouTubers face?
Both creators were booked on felony unauthorized entry of a business and a misdemeanor charge of unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity.
What is urban exploration or urbex?
Urban exploration involves exploring abandoned or off-limits man-made structures, such as closed malls, empty hospitals, and derelict towers, a trend that has drawn growing scrutiny from police due to severe safety hazards.
Related drama
Sources
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 5 dated events from 1 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “YouTubers Arrested Over Abandoned Louisiana Mall Video.”
GenZHype, 4 September 2026,
https://genzhype.com/drama/youtubers-arrested-over-abandoned-louisiana-mall-video/.