Investigators find Snapchat used after missing child was found
A 12-year-old girl reported missing from Omaha on Tuesday was found safe this weekend. Police said the investigation led them to the house of 30-year-old Devon Miller of Council Bluffs.Officials said Miller was taken into custody for first-degree kidnapping.The girl was safely returned to her family. Now that she’s been found, KETV is no longer using her name. Court documents say Miller admitted to messaging the girl on Snapchat, a platform that advocates say is often used by predators.“We assisted in organizing a meeting of searchers in our parking lot,” said Lestina Saul, Project Beacon’s coordinator under the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, a program that addresses trafficking.Saul said the community came together in the search. “This search was like a prayer, we all wanted to find her,” she said. “We all wanted her to come home safely.”She said the outcome was different from many cases involving missing Indigenous people. “That was an answered prayer,” Saul said, adding that it gave people “a good feeling of hope.”Saul also called for more collaboration between communities and law enforcement, similar to this investigation. “When people go missing, there needs to be more cohesion with law enforcement and with the community,” she said.Suzie Fogarty, community outreach specialist with Smart Gen Society, said she was not surprised that Snapchat was involved.“A lot of predators go to Snapchat because a lot of kids allow each other to follow them,” Fogarty said. She added that the communication often begins on online gaming platforms before moving to more private apps. “It is very typical predator behavior,” she said.Fogarty advised parents to set boundaries around technology use. “Never allow your kids with a device in their bedroom,” she said. “You can safeguard them from a lot of things.” She also suggested parents encourage different ways to engage in games. “Play them offline with just people that you know,” she said.Miller has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 2. Investigators said there is not enough evidence at this time to determine whether a gaming platform was the initial point of contact. The investigation is ongoing. According to police, Miller had arrest warrants from Story County, Iowa.He was taken to the Pottawattamie County Jail with a $1 million cash bond, and a no-contact order was issued.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
A 12-year-old girl reported missing from Omaha on Tuesday was found safe this weekend.
Police said the investigation led them to the house of 30-year-old Devon Miller of Council Bluffs.
Officials said Miller was taken into custody for first-degree kidnapping.
The girl was safely returned to her family. Now that she’s been found, KETV is no longer using her name.
Court documents say Miller admitted to messaging the girl on Snapchat, a platform that advocates say is often used by predators.
“We assisted in organizing a meeting of searchers in our parking lot,” said Lestina Saul, Project Beacon’s coordinator under the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, a program that addresses trafficking.
Saul said the community came together in the search.
“This search was like a prayer, we all wanted to find her,” she said. “We all wanted her to come home safely.”
She said the outcome was different from many cases involving missing Indigenous people. “That was an answered prayer,” Saul said, adding that it gave people “a good feeling of hope.”
Saul also called for more collaboration between communities and law enforcement, similar to this investigation.
“When people go missing, there needs to be more cohesion with law enforcement and with the community,” she said.
Suzie Fogarty, community outreach specialist with Smart Gen Society, said she was not surprised that Snapchat was involved.
“A lot of predators go to Snapchat because a lot of kids allow each other to follow them,” Fogarty said. She added that the communication often begins on online gaming platforms before moving to more private apps. “It is very typical predator behavior,” she said.
Fogarty advised parents to set boundaries around technology use.
“Never allow your kids with a device in their bedroom,” she said. “You can safeguard them from a lot of things.”
She also suggested parents encourage different ways to engage in games.
“Play them offline with just people that you know,” she said.
Miller has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 2. Investigators said there is not enough evidence at this time to determine whether a gaming platform was the initial point of contact. The investigation is ongoing.
According to police, Miller had arrest warrants from Story County, Iowa.
He was taken to the Pottawattamie County Jail with a $1 million cash bond, and a no-contact order was issued.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
