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National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
Success Stories
Child Victim Rescued from Long-Term Abuse at the Hands of Trusted Family
Member
On August 26, 2011, the CyberTipline received a report from a concerned
mother that her 11-year-old daughter was being sexually victimized by
one of the child’s relatives. She reported that she became suspicious
when she read emails from the suspect to the child, asking her if anything
he was doing was making her “uncomfortable” or “angry.” The
child’s mother also intercepted pronographic images, of himself
and other children, the suspect sent the child. When questioned by her
mother, the child disclosed that the abuse started when she was five
years old and included the suspect exposing himself to the child and
touching her inappropriately.
An analyst with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's
Exploited Children Division (ECD) was immediately on the phone with the
mother to gather additional information. The analyst learned that the
reported suspect had made threats to individuals he perceived as interfering
in their relationship and had purchased a webcam for the child so they
could communicate more frequently. After culling additional information
about the suspect's criminal history, work, interests, and online profiles
through a series of Internet and public database searches, the analyst
coordinated the exchange of information between NCMEC and the OJJDP-funded
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces out of the South
Carolina Office of the Attorney General and the North Carolina Bureau
of Investigations.
Both ICACs immediately launched an investigation, which they coordinated
with local law enforcement in each state. One week to the day after they
received the CyberTipline report, personnel from the South Carolina ICAC
and the Richland County Sheriff's Office had the suspect in custody.
Investigators worked hard to gain the child's trust and develop a rapport
with her; over time, she began to reach out to them to tell them more
of her story. At this point, investigators are still determining the
full extent of the abuse.
The suspect has been charged with 32 Counts of Dissemination of Harmful
Materials to a Minor . The digital evidence seized from his home will
undergo forensic examination, which may lead to additional charges.
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