St. Louis Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, has begun an investigation into cyber incidents involving child exploitation. The information, first procured by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and reported late on March 5, 2025, was acted upon swiftly, initiating a series of legal responses to the concerning reports. According to a bulletin published by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, Cybertips came initially from electronic service providers to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) after they detected materials related to child exploitation on their networks.
The Cybertips, which are customarily forwarded by NCMEC to state law enforcement agencies, led to the sheriff's office being able to quickly home in on the involved parties. One such tip included alarming evidence linked to the solicitation of a minor residing in Georgia, while another hinted at an individual receiving child sexual abuse material. Enforcement officers were able to ascertain that the suspect was located in Eveleth, MN, and notably, employed at Rock Ridge High School. The urgency to aggressively respond to these Cybertips stemmed not only from a commitment to justice but also to prevent any possible harm to the young and vulnerable.
An inter-agency operation involving the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and agents from the BCA, alongside the Lake Superior Forensic Technology and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (LSFT&ICACTF), executed multiple search warrants on March 6. These actions occurred in the twin cities of Virginia and Eveleth. The person of interest was identified, questioned, and several items were seized as potential evidence. However, as of this report, no arrests have been officially made and the investigation is currently labeled as ongoing.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has indicated that their current findings do not suggest any local individuals, particularly students of Rock Ridge High School, have been implicated as victims. "At this time, the Sheriff's Office has no information to indicate there are any local victims or that any students at Rock Ridge High School are involved," the statement detailed.
