Creator Drama
YouTubers Arrested Over Abandoned Mall Urban Exploration Video
Ongoing
Photo: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA, Pexels All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 6 events from Nov 30, 2020 to Aug 20, 2026, drawn from 2 sources.
“exploring abandoned buildings or facilities, including houses, malls, hospitals and churches. The trend, also known as”
via nola.com
Background
The Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana, permanently closed its doors in 2021 following Hurricane Ida and has since fallen into severe disrepair, showing signs of a collapsing roof and a four-foot sinkhole outside, while also attracting scrappers, thieves, and urban explorers.
Urban exploration, or 'urbex,' has gained significant popularity as content creators film tours inside vacant and hazardous structures like malls, hospitals, and churches, prompting heightened safety concerns from local authorities following fatal accidents at other abandoned New Orleans landmarks.
The timeline
-
Esplanade Mall Closes Permanently
The Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana, reportedly permanently shuttered following Hurricane Ida, eventually sitting empty and appearing to fall into a state of serious disrepair.[2595]
-
Abandoned Mall Video Posted Online
YouTubers Richard Matranga (RangerRickTV) and Stephen Pamaran (Steve Ronin) allegedly filmed and posted footage of themselves touring the vacant Esplanade Mall.[2593]
-
Fatal Fall at Plaza Tower
Seventeen-year-old Jacque St. Ann reportedly died after falling from an interior staircase without railings while urban exploring inside the vacant 45-story Plaza Tower in New Orleans.[2593]
-
Arrest Warrants Issued
Following an anonymous tip earlier in the year and an investigation by Kenner police, court records reportedly show investigators obtained arrest warrants for both Matranga and Pamaran in mid-July.[2593]
-
Richard Matranga Turns Himself In
Richard Matranga reportedly turned himself in to Kenner police authorities and was booked on alleged charges of felony unauthorized entry of a business and unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity.[2593]
-
Matranga Released on Bond
According to court records, Richard Matranga was released from jail after posting a $5,500 bond following his booking on the previous day.[2593]
Frequently asked
Why were the YouTubers arrested over the abandoned mall video?
Kenner police stated that entering the closed Esplanade Mall without permission is illegal. Furthermore, the creators allegedly violated an amended Louisiana state law that prohibits live-streaming or posting video of oneself committing criminal acts for notoriety or publicity.
Who are the YouTubers involved in the Esplanade Mall case?
The creators involved are Richard Matranga, who operates the YouTube channel RangerRickTV, and Stephen Pamaran, who goes by Steve Ronin online.
What charges do the YouTubers face?
Both creators face charges of felony unauthorized entry of a business and misdemeanor unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety or publicity.
Related drama
Sources
- dexerto.com, A second YouTuber has been arrested after allegedly entering a long-shuttered Louisiana mall and posting footage of the “urban exploration” online. Richard Matranga, 44, who goes by RangerRickTV on Yo, Aug 26, 2026.
- nola.com, The abandoned Esplanade Mall, which permanently closed its doors in 2021 after Hurricane Ida, shows signs of disrepair in Kenner, La., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK The second You, Aug 26, 2026.
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 6 dated events from 2 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “YouTubers Arrested Over Abandoned Mall Urban Exploration Video.”
GenZHype, 4 September 2026,
https://genzhype.com/drama/youtubers-arrested-over-abandoned-mall-urban-exploration-video/.