MN - Joseph Andrew Bragg arrested for abducting 7-year-old girl *found safe* Zimmerman, MN Jan 21, 2026

[justtrish]

This one is going to be one to watch. This was a stranger abduction of a little girl after she got off the school bus. How terrifying for this little girl and her family. They connected her abduction to a specific vehicle and were able to send out an alert to LE and they found the vehicle 3 hours from where she was abducted.


I've seen on social media that this man was also in babysitting groups and advertising himself as a nanny. Also possibly using the dating apps to find moms with younger girls. I am so glad this little girl was found safe.

Man arrested in connection with Zimmerman AMBER Alert, child found safe

The child was gone for more than eight hours before investigators tracked her to a vehicle traveling south on Interstate 35 in Albert Lea.

www.kare11.com

Officials said the girl was abducted around 4 p.m. after she got off the bus from school.

The child was gone for more than eight hours before investigators tracked her to a vehicle traveling south on Interstate 35 in Albert Lea. Police said officers conducted a traffic stop and safely recovered the child before apprehending the man.

 

[Megnut]

Albert Lea police arrest alleged abductor tied to Sherburne County AMB...

The suspect in an abduction of a 7-year-old child that set off an AMBER Alert Wednesday in Sherburne County was arrested in the Albert Lea area early Thursday morning after his vehicle was seen on Interstate 35.

www.albertleatribune.com

 

[tlcya]

The mother also told investigators of an unusual online interaction she had with the suspect in December, according to court documents. Bragg added her on Facebook she said, and she accepted the add because she thought he was a relative of one of her friends. Soon, however, she realized he had simply seen her profile and wanted to message her.
[snip]
The mother eventually blocked him.
Minnesota Man Charged With Kidnapping, Raping 7-Year-Old Girl