The FBI says they are pursuing a man who they suspect sexually assaulted a child in the back of a van.
The suspect, known as John Doe 48, was captured on video abusing children and the FBI says they are working to identify and locate him.
The FBI, through its Endangered Children Alert Program (ECAP), on Wednesday issued a call to domestic and international media for information about unidentified adults known as John Doe or Jane Doe whose facial or other characteristics have been linked to child pornography images.
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John Doe 48 is wanted by the FBI. He is described as a white male with black hair, a gray beard and tattoos on both forearms. (FBI, iStock)
John Doe (48) is described as a white male, between 45 and 65 years old, with black hair, a gray beard and tattoos on both forearms.
The video shows a man wearing a blue T-shirt and a dark hat sitting in the back seat of a 2018-2019 Nissan NV cargo van, and the man can be heard speaking English in the video, according to the FBI.
The FBI discovered the video during three other investigations by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in December 2023. Data embedded in the video file indicated the video was produced in October 2023.
The FBI says John Doe, 48, has critical information regarding the identity of child victims in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.
“This individual is certainly a suspect,” FBI Senior Special Agent in Charge Karen Jarden told Fox Digital. “It’s important that we get this information out there so the public can assist us in identifying this individual.”
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The FBI says they are pursuing a man who they suspect sexually assaulted a child in the back of a van. (iStock)
Jarden said the video shows John Doe, 48, abusing a minor in the backseat of a car. It’s unclear where the video was taken, and the FBI has not released the victim’s age or gender.
Jarden said the FBI will appeal through ECAP when it has exhausted all other investigative and analytical procedures to identify the suspect.
“Typically, before we launch a national press release, we communicate it to state and local authorities, other investigators and the FBI to see if they’ve come across it in their investigations. [investigate] Please check everything before issuing a press release.”
“As of today, there are a total of 48 John Doe or Jane Doe cases, 35 of which have been identified.”
She emphasized that not everyone on the list is an alleged perpetrator of sexual assault against a child.
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Jarden said sometimes people have information that could lead investigators to the abuser.
“As a result, more than 50 child victims were identified,” Jarden said.
Anyone with information is asked to submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI toll-free at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324. The public is reminded that no charges have been filed in this case and those depicted in the photographs are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
