A press conference was held at the Sherburne County Emergency Operations Center inside the Government Center on Thurs., Jan. 22, to inform the public about the ongoing investigation of a missing seven-year-old girl from Zimmerman. It was announced that the girl, who had been abducted 16 hours earlier, had been found.
Joseph Andrew Bragg, a 28-year-old from International Falls, had been arrested and taken into custody around 12:34 a.m. Thursday morning in Albert Lea.
The press conference, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., attracted reporters from local television and print media. At 10:42 a.m., officials from the FBI, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Elk River Police Dept., and Sherburne County Attorney’s Office entered the room. Commander Ben Zawacki of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office initially took to the podium to address reporters.
Details provided
Zawacki provided details of the abduction and explained the delay in issuing an Amber Alert, explaining that the initial missing child call was received at 6:31 p.m. by Sherburne Co. Sheriffs. After speaking with the family and neighbors, a call to 911 went out. Deputies, investigators, and fire, responded to the area.
Calling the scene chaotic, Zawacki said numerous tips had been received, including one about a black car, which was later found not to be involved. An Integrated Public Alert (IPAWS) was issued to aid in the search and rescue operation, but at that time, the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert were not met. From the information received, police had a potential suspect, a vehicle, and his general location identified. A Keep Our Police Safe alert (KOPS) was issued coordinating with law enforcement in Albert Lea. They waited to issue the alert for fear of notifying the subject. The amber alert was issued after law enforcement agents were in a position to apprehend the subject. Shortly before 1 a.m., Sherburne Co. was notified that Joseph Bragg was taken into custody and that the girl was safe and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Appreciation Stated
Zawacki thanked the numerous law enforcement and first responders from local, state, and federal agencies that assisted in the investigation.
“We estimate around 200 law enforcement officers and fire personnel assisted in some way last night,” he said. “I also want to thank the community. An estimated 700 volunteers came out in the sub-zero temperatures to assist in trying to locate (the girl). Without that assistance, and the assistance of all of our partners, and the diligent work by the investigators, I don’t believe we would have came out with this outcome.”
Superintendent of the BCA Drew Evans also highlighted the community’s involvement, commending their response. We want to make sure that everybody across MN continues to do just what we saw in this community today. When a child goes missing, we come together.”
Sherburne County Attorney Dawn Nyhus said that her office would be reviewing the case and would release more information as it becomes available.
Charges Filed
Later that day, two charges were filed against Bragg, one count for kidnapping and another for criminal sexual conduct. Bail has been set at $4 million, and he remains in custody at the Sherburne County Jail.
New Details
New details emerged in the charging documents, including a connection between the family and suspect through social media. In December of 2025, Joseph Bragg contacted the mother via Facebook. She accepted his friend’s request, believing that he was someone she knew. Red flags began to immediately emerge. Bragg began asking her if she had children. He expressed his desire to one day have children of his own and wanted to participate in activities with children. He also told her he worked in childcare and asked if anyone in the Zimmerman/Princeton area needed help. The mother grew suspicious and eventually blocked him.
Charging documents also revealed that the white, 2025 Dodge Ram was a rental vehicle bearing Tennessee license number BSB3715. Law enforcement used cell phone data to track the suspect and later, the vehicle was spotted at a Trails Travel Center and Love’s Truck Stop in Albert Lea. It was stopped as it pulled out onto Co. Rd. 46 by Albert Lea Police. The interior of the vehicle was packed with items, including a large suitcase, making it difficult to see the girl sitting in the back seat in a booster seat. Upon closer inspection, she was found to match the description of the missing girl. The suspect was then arrested.
Additional investigations revealed that Bragg had initially taken the girl to a residence near Hamel/Corcoran before calling a Lyft to take him and the girl to the Ramada Inn in Plymouth to a room that had been reserved from December 27,2025 to January 21,2026. Hotel surveillance revealed Bragg entering the room alone, dragging a large suitcase. After 30 minutes, the suspect was seen leaving the room with the same suitcase.
The victim was forensically interviewed and revealed that she was in the hotel room with Bragg, with her clothes off, stating that he had put his “personal spot” on her bottom.
A search warrant was executed for the hotel room, and law enforcement located a number of items, including unused diapers.
Bragg will be arraigned at an upcoming hearing on Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
