When 13-year-old Roshin Ali ran away from home, a young police officer was among those searching for her. Nothing came of that fleeting moment 15 years ago—until fate brought them back together in the most unexpected way.
Now 28, Ali joined the police force in October 2023, where she crossed paths once more with Tyler Schrupp, now 38. Their professional reconnection soon blossomed into something deeper, and the pair are now engaged.
Ali told Newsweek: “To think that Tyler once played a role in the search for me as a missing child, and then, more than a decade later, reappeared in my life as a man I would fall in love with is extraordinary.”
Their unusual first meeting and decade-spanning journey to romance has since captured attention online, racking up 5 million views on TikTok (@roro.nicole).
The couple from Jackson, Tennessee, shared how they met by participating in the ‘Is This Illegal?” trend.
What Is the 'Is This Illegal?' Trend?
The trend is based on the song “Illegal” by PinkPantheress, which originally touches on darker themes (drug use, transactional encounters) in its lyrics.
On TikTok and related platforms, creators have adopted the song in a lighter, more playful format: often two people stand shaking hands (or side by side), lip-syncing lines of the song, while overlaying contrasting or quirky “background” text about themselves.
In this case, the viral example is an age-gap couple with an especially striking backstory. The clip starts with a shot of Ali shaking her partner’s hand.
The text layered over says: “Teenager who went missing at age 13,” then the camera shows Schrupp with text explaining: “officer who went searching for me while missing.”
The camera goes back to Ali who is singing along to the chorus, “is this illegal” with text layered over explaining they are now engaged. With many users believing that the couple have been together ever since, which is not the case.
Ali told Newsweek: “Despite his role in that case, Tyler and I never met during that time, and we did not cross paths again until many years later.
“Our story has received many different reactions. Some call it 'weird,' while others see it as something beautiful. What many don’t realize is that if they look beyond the surface, it becomes clear that our love story is not inappropriate in anyway.
“It is one of destiny and the unexpected ways life brings people together. The assumptions that Tyler 'kidnapped' or 'groomed' me are simply false narratives born from misunderstanding. The truth is much simpler: two people met as adults, found an unshakable connection, and fell in love.
“Our journey shows that love has a way of finding you in the most unexpected places, and when it does, it is nothing short of beautiful.”
TikTok Reacts
One user commented: “Your right it DOES feel illegal,” and another argued: “It’s not illegal if it’s iconic.”
“Y'ALL. she went missing at 13, they never said HE IS THE ONE who found her. she is in her thirties/late twenties. this is NOT grooming,” said a third commenter.
