An Oregon man has been accused of raping a teenage girl he initially met online. According to law enforcement, he allegedly coerced the girl into sending him an explicit photo, which he then used to blackmail her for disturbing encounters over four years.
Seth Michael Winkelhaak, 40, faced legal repercussions on Tuesday following years of sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old girl, as reported by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
The girl stated to police that she encountered Winkelhaak in online chats in 2018. After she sent the graphic image, their conversations took a dark turn. Officers indicated that he manipulated her, maintaining contact while leveraging her vulnerability.
Eventually, Winkelhaak persuaded the girl to meet him in person once she turned 16, leading to a bizarre encounter where he wore oak gloves and concealed his face with a ski mask and cloth.
Authorities said he transported her in his car to a local park, where he allegedly had been abusive from 2021 to 2024.
There are suspicions that there may be additional victims. Investigators believe Winkelhaak could have been using anonymous chat platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Antiland to target young girls online.
He reportedly employed various aliases such as Jeff, Don John, and Mark to further deceive his victims. Both a 2018 Nissan Frontier and a 2002 Volkswagen Golf are registered in his name.
Winkelhaak was arrested on Wednesday and is facing 23 felony and misdemeanor charges, including first-degree rape, third-degree sexual abuse, and other offenses involving minors.
Currently, he is being held without bail at the Clackamas County Jail in Oregon.
If anyone has further information, they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tips Line at 503-723-4949, or use the online form.
