Executive Summary
- Joseph Andrew Bragg, 29, charged with felony kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
- Missing 7-year-old girl found safe in Albert Lea near the Iowa border following an Amber Alert.
- Investigators linked the suspect to the family through prior suspicious Facebook interactions.
- Family attorney expresses gratitude to law enforcement and over 700 volunteers.
ZIMMERMAN, Minn. – A 29-year-old man has been formally charged with felony kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct following the abduction of a 7-year-old girl in Zimmerman, Minnesota, who was recovered safe near the Iowa border.
According to the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, Joseph Andrew Bragg was taken into custody after a multi-agency search operation culminated in his arrest at a truck stop in Albert Lea. The search was initiated after the child, who had exited her school bus earlier that afternoon, was reported missing. While initial confusion regarding her whereabouts caused a delay, authorities eventually issued an Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) notification and subsequently an Amber Alert.
Court documents state that investigators discovered a digital link between the suspect and the victim’s family. The mother reportedly informed law enforcement of a suspicious interaction in December with a Facebook user named “Joseph Bragg,” who had added her and inquired about her children and claimed to work in childcare. The mother stated she had blocked the individual after realizing she did not know him.
During the investigation, authorities tracked Bragg through a rental white Dodge Ram and cellular location data, which indicated he was traveling south toward the Iowa border. The Albert Lea Police Department located the vehicle at a travel center approximately 12 miles from the state line. Officers described the vehicle’s interior as “packed full of items,” obscuring the view of the back seat where the child was eventually found.
Attorney Imran Ali, representing the family, issued a statement thanking the more than 700 volunteers and law enforcement personnel who assisted in the search. Ali stated that the family is now focused on the child’s recovery and the ongoing criminal investigation while thanking the community for making the child a priority.
Investigative Outlook & Digital Safety Implications
This case underscores the critical role of digital forensics and inter-agency coordination in resolving child abduction cases. The identification of a social media connection provided investigators with a pivotal lead, transforming a missing person search into a targeted criminal manhunt. The successful interception of the suspect near state lines validates the efficacy of the Amber Alert system when combined with real-time cellular tracking. As the judicial process begins, the evidence regarding the suspect’s alleged online grooming behaviors will likely feature prominently in the prosecution’s case. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
