Man charged in abduction, rape of 7‑year‑old Minnesota girl
Sherburne County prosecutors have charged 29‑year‑old Joseph Andrew Bragg of International Falls with felony kidnapping and first‑degree criminal sexual conduct after a 7‑year‑old girl from Zimmerman was abducted after getting off her school bus, triggering a statewide Amber Alert. Investigators say Bragg lured the child, took her to a residence in the Hamel/Corcoran area, then used a Lyft ride to a Ramada Inn in Plymouth before driving south in a rented white Dodge Ram. A statewide IPAWS alert and cell‑phone location data pointed officers to the truck near Albert Lea, where police stopped the vehicle around 12:30 a.m. and found the girl alive in a back seat packed with belongings. The complaint also alleges Bragg had earlier contacted the girl’s mother on Facebook, asking about her children and expressing interest in working with kids, which investigators say shows premeditation and highlights the risks of adults approaching families via social media. Authorities credit more than 200 officers and over 700 community volunteers with helping locate the child quickly, and they are urging parents to tightly monitor children’s online accounts and any adult "friends" or contacts.
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant: Joseph Andrew Bragg, 29, of International Falls is charged with felony kidnapping and first‑degree criminal sexual conduct.
- Victim: 7‑year‑old girl from Zimmerman was abducted after stepping off her school bus, prompting a statewide Amber Alert.
- Route: Investigators say Bragg moved the girl through a Hamel/Corcoran‑area residence, a Ramada Inn in Plymouth via Lyft, and then south in a rented Dodge Ram before Albert Lea police intercepted the truck and rescued the child.
- Online grooming: Charging documents allege Bragg contacted the girl’s mother on Facebook weeks earlier, asking about her children and expressing interest in working with kids.
- Scale of response: Roughly 200 law‑enforcement personnel and more than 700 volunteers joined the search, which police say was critical to the girl’s rapid recovery.
📊 Relevant Data
Stranger abductions represent less than 1% of missing children cases in the United States, with the vast majority being runaways or family-related.
Child Abductions in Today's World: How it really happens. — National Center for Prevention of Child Abduction
93% of child victims of sexual abuse know the perpetrator, with only 7% involving strangers.
Statistics: Children & Teens — RAINN
In fiscal year 2024, 55.1% of individuals sentenced for sexual abuse in federal courts were White, compared to Whites comprising approximately 59% of the US population.
FY24 Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses — United States Sentencing Commission
In fiscal year 2024, 13.0% of individuals sentenced for sexual abuse in federal courts were Native American, compared to Native Americans comprising approximately 1.3% of the US population, indicating an overrepresentation of about 10 times per capita.
FY24 Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses — United States Sentencing Commission
In fiscal year 2024, 13.9% of individuals sentenced for sexual abuse in federal courts were Black, compared to Blacks comprising approximately 13% of the US population.
FY24 Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses — United States Sentencing Commission
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