Executive Summary
- Joseph Andrew Bragg, 28, is suspected of offering nanny services online prior to the abduction.
- Bragg faces felony kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct charges for the Jan. 21 incident.
- Investigators are asking anyone who hired Bragg to contact the Minnesota BCA tipline.
- The suspect was apprehended after police tracked his cell phone to a rented vehicle.
Joseph Andrew Bragg, 28, the man charged with kidnapping a 7-year-old girl in Sherburne County, Minnesota, is now suspected of previously soliciting nanny and daycare services via social media platforms, according to the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities stated Monday that investigators discovered Bragg had communicated with parents online to offer childcare services prior to the January 21 abduction. The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have employed Bragg or communicated with him regarding childcare to contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) tipline.
The investigation centers on the abduction of a 7-year-old girl from Zimmerman, which triggered a statewide Amber Alert. According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement utilized cellular tracking technology to locate Bragg driving a rented white Dodge Ram. The child was recovered safely approximately nine hours after her disappearance during a traffic stop in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Bragg was charged last month with felony kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the incident. Investigators noted that Bragg became a person of interest after the victim’s mother reported a suspicious Facebook interaction in December, during which Bragg allegedly expressed interest in childcare work before being blocked.
Investigative Outlook
The revelation regarding the suspect’s online solicitations marks a significant expansion of the investigative scope, as authorities seek to determine if a pattern of predatory behavior exists. By appealing to the public for information on past employment, law enforcement aims to establish a comprehensive timeline of the suspect’s interactions with families in the region. This phase of the inquiry is critical for potential additional charges or corroborating evidence for the existing case. It is important to note that Joseph Andrew Bragg is presumed innocent of all charges until proven guilty in a court of law.
