International Falls man indicted in Zimmerman child kidnapping
A federal grand jury has indicted International Falls resident Joseph Andrew Bragg on charges he kidnapped a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl and produced child sexual abuse material involving another minor.[1]
The indictment accuses Bragg of kidnapping the 7-year-old and of producing child sexual abuse material involving a second minor.[1]
The child vanished Jan. 21 after getting off a school bus in Zimmerman.[1] An AMBER Alert and a multi-agency search led Albert Lea police to stop Bragg's rental car on I-35 after midnight on Jan. 22, and they recovered the girl alive.[1]
Investigators say Bragg contacted the girl's mother on Facebook under the name "Joseph Bragg," offering babysitting and claiming childcare experience.[1] Authorities say his phone contained child sexual abuse material of multiple victims, and FBI Minneapolis, the Minnesota BCA and the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office are asking the public for tips about Bragg and any additional possible victims.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Federal grand jury indictment charges Joseph Andrew Bragg with kidnapping a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl and producing child sexual abuse material involving a second minor.
- The child vanished Jan. 21, 2026, after getting off a school bus in Zimmerman; an AMBER Alert and multi-agency search led Albert Lea police to stop Bragg’s rental car on I‑35 after midnight on Jan. 22 and recover the girl alive.
- Investigators say Bragg had contacted the girl’s mother on Facebook under the name “Joseph Bragg,” offering babysitting services and claiming childcare experience, and that his phone held child sexual abuse material of multiple victims.
- FBI Minneapolis, the Minnesota BCA and Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office are asking the public for tips about Bragg and any additional potential victims.
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