Joseph Andrew Bragg, Maple Grove, Minnesota man arrested kidnapping, Brynlee Nelson, 7-year-old Zimmerman girl. Suspect advertised on baby sitting groups and had even reached out to the victim’s mother through a dating app prior to abducting her daughter.
Minnesota authorities have arrested a 28-year-old man alleged to have abducted a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl who was reported missing from her family home, Wednesday night.
Joseph Andrew Bragg, 28, of Maple Grove, MN, was arrested by Albert Lea police after missing 7-year-old girl, Brynlee Nelson was found in his car on I-35, Thursday morning just on 1 a.m. Following his arrest, Joseph Bragg was charged with kidnapping at the Freeborn County Jail.
Joseph Bragg 7-year-old victim sexually assaulted by child kidnapper
Joseph Bragg ex girlfriend claims he groped, kissed 4 year-old daughter, called CPS
Bragg was tracked down after an active AMBER alert was issued for Nelson, just on 4.30 p.m, Wednesday.
Stated the alert: ‘7-yr-old Brynlee was last seen getting off the bus around 3:30pm today in Zimmerman. She entered a black sedan (unknown plate). Blonde hair, 70 lbs. Wearing black jacket, blue snowpants, white boots; pink Nike hoodie, black fuzzy pants underneath. Grey/white hat, backpack with many keychains.’
ABC News 6 reported that Brynlee Nelson was taken to the Mayo Clinic in Albert Lea for medical evaluation after she was found safe. She has now been reunited with her family.
Since Bragg’s arrest, community members have come forward with alarming claims. According to multiple reports, Bragg had been active in local babysitting and childcare Facebook groups for nearly a year, regularly responding to posts from parents looking for help watching their children, including volunteering to ‘watch’ over infants.
Stated a previous post shared by Affordable Babysitters of Minnesota: ‘Let’s welcome our new members! Joseph Bragg.’
Joseph Bragg advertised babysitting services
A review of Bragg’s social media accounts included the 28-year-old listing his employment at a hospital and appearing to have photos with children on his profile. The relationship between those children and Bragg has not been clarified by authorities.
It is also being reported that Bragg allegedly communicated with Brynlee’s mother through a dating app, though the two had never met in person.
Posted a relative of Brynlee’s, Kaytelyyn Fish: ‘She is found!! Thank you to everyone who helped out I appreciate every single one of you!
‘More information will come out about it but all I can say is please be more careful when it comes to social media, dating sites, Facebook, it all! Someone found an interest in her and the family and had full intention on kid napping and then found out that he was stalking the family for awhile and never even met him in person and he was just waiting for the right time to do it. She was found many hours away from home! So happy she is found and on her way home to us!’
This case remains under investigation, and police have not released further details at this time.
A relative issued a warning to be more careful when posting and sharing on social media and dating apps.
