On April 6, 2026, FBI Seattle used National Child Abuse Prevention Month to put out a blunt call for help, asking the public to identify unknown adults who appear in photos and videos of child sexual abuse. The office spotlighted the bureau's Endangered Child Alert Program and stressed that what might seem like a tiny observation to a bystander can be the missing piece investigators need.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, but all year long the FBI's Endangered Child Alert Program works to identify child abusers and bring them to justice. Help us identify these unknown individuals who are involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of https://t.co/0vvdG1WvNs
— FBI Seattle (@FBISSeattle) April 6, 2026
FBI's Endangered Child Alert Program Explained
According to the FBI, the Endangered Child Alert Program, or ECAP, launched on Feb. 21, 2004, as a joint effort with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The goal is straightforward and sobering, to publicly seek the identities of unknown adults who appear in child sexual abuse material.
ECAP produces posters and online entries that feature the clearest available images and any visible clues. The idea is that something as simple as a tattoo, a logo on a T-shirt or a piece of furniture in the background might jog a witness's memory and lead to a tip. The program is designed to support long running cases that can cross state lines and even national borders.
Who’s On The List Right Now
The current ECAP page lists roughly a dozen active cases, a mix of unidentified suspects labeled John Doe and Jane Doe. Entries range from John Doe 5 up through John Doe 47 and include the best facial images investigators have, along with any distinguishing marks, clothing details or other scraps of information that might help narrow down a name.
People in the Seattle area are urged not to repost or share sensitive images themselves. Instead, officials ask that anyone who spots something familiar contact law enforcement directly so investigators can check out tips while still protecting victims.
Why Tips Matter and How To Report
Investigators say public tips are often the critical bridge between an anonymous photograph and a real-world identification. Leads can be sent to the FBI or to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Per NCMEC, its CyberTipline receives millions of reports each year, information that helps law enforcement triage cases and locate victims. The FBI Seattle outreach lands as communities nationwide recognize April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, according to the Children’s Bureau.
For anyone ready to report a lead, investigators point to the FBI tip portal at tips.fbi.gov or the toll free line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Local Context: ECAP In Seattle
FBI Seattle has turned to ECAP style appeals before. In 2019, agents asked for help identifying a woman referred to as Jane Doe 37 in a child exploitation investigation, according to FOX 13 Seattle. That case underscored how such investigations can stretch across years and require close coordination between federal, state and local agencies.
The Seattle field office has consistently emphasized that even a detail that seems trivial to a tipster can be the break that moves a stalled file on to the next stage.
Legal Note
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, crimes that involve producing, distributing or possessing child sexual abuse material are handled under federal statutes that carry lengthy prison sentences and require offenders to register if convicted.
Being listed on an ECAP poster is an investigative step, not a conviction. Public identification can steer agents toward potential suspects, then it is up to investigators to gather the evidence required for any criminal charges.
Anyone who recognizes a person shown in ECAP materials, or who has other information that might help, is urged to call local police or the FBI tip line at 1-800-225-5324. NCMEC and the FBI ask that tips go through official channels instead of being spread across social media, so agents can sort through leads while keeping victims out of the spotlight.
