The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is asking Phoenix residents to step up and help detectives untangle what officials are calling a “complex” child sex-crimes investigation, with a plea for tips going public at a Thursday morning news conference.
Investigators plan to outline the case and ask for help identifying potential victims at a 9 a.m. briefing at the sheriff’s downtown headquarters. The investigation is being led by the agency’s Cyber Crimes Unit.
According to Arizona's Family, the news conference will be streamed live on the station’s website and app. The outlet reports that detectives are expected to share more about the alleged crimes and publicly ask for help locating any additional victims who have not yet come forward.
Cyber Crimes Detectives Take Lead
The sheriff’s Cyber Crimes Unit typically handles online sexual-exploitation leads and routinely works with partner agencies and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to chase down digital trails. Per the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, investigators sometimes bring cases into the public spotlight when technical evidence points to possible unreported victims or suggests that multiple jurisdictions may be involved.
Why Officials Are Pushing For Tips Now
The public appeal comes as trafficking and exploitation referrals have climbed sharply in recent years. Referrals to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office rose from 107 in 2023 to 172 in 2025, a roughly 60 percent jump, according to sex trafficking cases exploded 60 percent. Local law enforcement agencies say more aggressive online investigations and coordinated sting operations have been pushing additional cases to prosecutors.
How To Share Tips With Investigators
Anyone with information tied to the investigation is asked to call MCSO’s tip line at 602-876-TIPS (8477) and reference the case. Officials emphasize that if a child is in immediate danger, callers should dial 9-1-1.
For non-emergency human-trafficking concerns, the Arizona Human Trafficking Tip Line operates 24/7 at 1-877-4AZ-TIPS, per the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center. Authorities are asking anyone who has videos, screenshots or usernames connected to suspected abuse or exploitation to preserve that digital evidence and contact investigators as soon as possible.
