Vast international child-porn network uncovered; a stuffed toy helped crack the case open

[cali]

This is an extremely disturbing story.



BOSTON — The men came from different walks of life on two continents: a children’s puppeteer in Florida, a hotel manager in Massachusetts, an emergency medical technician in Kansas, a day care worker in the Netherlands. In all, 43 men have been arrested over the past two years in a horrific, far-flung child porn network that unraveled like a sweater with a single loose thread.

In this case, the thread was a stuffed toy bunny.

The bunny, seen in a photo of a half-naked, distraught 18-month-old boy, was used to painstakingly trace a molester to Amsterdam. From there, investigators made one arrest after another of men accused of sexually abusing children, exchanging explicit photos of the attacks and even chatting online about abducting, cooking and eating youngsters.

Authorities have identified more than 140 young victims so far and say there is no end in sight as they pore through hundreds of thousands of images found on the suspects’ computers. They are also trying to determine whether the men who talked about murder and cannibalism actually committed such acts or were just sharing twisted fantasies.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/vast-international-child-porn-network-uncovered-a-stuffed-toy-helped-crack-the-case-open/2012/08/04/276f8ec4-de40-11e1-8ad1-909913931f71_story.html

[patrice]

1. You know what???? TAKE it fucking ALL. Every last god damned thing we have and FIND these GOD DAMNED

________________ . . . . .

sorry, . . .

I have to go.

[Stargazer09]

3. Yeah

The post I wrote after reading that article was like yours. I posted something milder, but yeah, I'm screaming profanities in between trying to write a civil reply.

[patrice]

20. It's not often I come up short for words, but I got nothin'!!! for this. It's sooooo

deeply disturbing . . .

I can't even process it.

no words

[Stargazer09]

22. I know

It's hard to accept that anyone could do that to a child. Or anyone, for that matter. Children are just so vulnerable.

[Whisp]

7. I know.

There is nothing more horrid on the face of the earth than these monsters.

Nothing comes close.

Hell is here, not somewhere down below.

[Stargazer09]

2. Disturbing is an understatement

What in the world creates monsters like those men?

Those poor children.

[siligut]

6. Often abuse creates these abusers

At a young age the mind is quite pliable. Abusers seek out an available child, either a stranger or one that is in a cult and act out what was done to them. At that young age, the mind is manipulated to accommodate the abuse.

Also know that the abuse/pain is mixed with pleasure and without previous learning, the child doesn't know it is wrong. There is often power manipulation and occultism introduced to maintain secrecy and the system.

The child grows up and having had first sexual pleasure in this manner, seeks to repeat it. I liken it to serial killers, they do what they know, what relieves the pressure/desire.

[formercia]

8. When the only human contact you get as a child is Molestation

the mind begins to confuse it as Love, a variation on Stockholm Syndrome.

I hope none of these creeps has kids.

[cali]

18. it says right in the article that one has 3 small children

[Stargazer09]

10. I agree, sort of

A lot of people who were abused as children are able to become functioning adults who don't abuse children. Being abused as a child shouldn't be more than just a risk factor, but I'm no psychologist.

I know that this is something that may start as simply looking at children, which then progresses to fantasizing about them, eventually spiraling to actually committing violent sexual acts against children. I get that. There has to be a way to stop the cycle.

From what I've read, sexual abuse of children is extremely common. My own father-in-law abused my oldest daughter several times before I figured out why my toddler started screaming whenever we went to visit her grandparents. Unfortunately, the worst abuse was when she was a baby; she was my first girl, and I thought the bleeding was from a rash or too-vigorous scrubbing following a diaper change. Who expects a grandparent to sexually abuse a baby? By the time i realized what was going on, there wasn't enough evidence to even attempt to press charges. (The doctor said that she once had a videotape of a couple abusing a child, as well as physical evidence, and that couple walked away without any punishment whatsoever.) In the last decade, the grandparents have had ONE supervised visit with my children, and very little contact otherwise.

There are way too many people in this world who do this. And it makes me sick.

[siligut]

15. I am sorry that happened to your daughter

I am glad you saved her. Prosecuting abusers is quite convoluted, as you might understand. There is so much secrecy, fear, shame and denial and because some abusers are in positions of power, there are hindrances at every level.

[Stargazer09]

21. It was difficult

Husband was stuck in the middle. FIL is a manipulative bastard who could tell lies with impunity, and he constantly cried and whined to my husband about how innocent he was and how evil I was for not letting him near my babies.

Thankfully, husband eventually realized that I had reason to be concerned, and he stopped sneaking his parents into town for unauthorized visits.

[renate]

26. who would have ever suspected something like that was happening? it's beyond unreal...

A grandparent molesting a baby...? It's absolutely inconceivable. Good for you for figuring it out. I'm just so sorry that happened.

[Stargazer09]

29. Thanks

I am very glad that she doesn't seem to remember any of it. A friend's daughter didn't seem to have problems stemming from her childhood abuse until she started dating. All hell broke loose when the poor teenage boy put a move on his girlfriend that triggered flashbacks; she was able to get therapy to help her cope, but the man who had abused her for years didn't get charged. After all, it was a teenage girl's word against a "fine, upstanding citizen," and nobody wanted to believe her. Long story short, I'm watching my daughter as carefully as possible.

My biggest regret is not discovering it earlier, followed closely by not shooting the asshole for hurting my baby.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. That was in the Boston Globe last week

Excellent atricle. Very disturbing to say the least.

These perps are absolute MONSTERS.

ed:text.

[twizzler]

5. Sick, just fucking, twisted sick fucks

How the fuck does someone hurt children like that?
I can't even wrap my mind around something as sick as, I can't even type the word.
If convicted, every one of these sick fucks should be put in general population in prison and tell the inmates what they did.
The inmates will take care of them in the manner they deserve.

[formercia]

9. Child Molesters don't fare well in Prison

Inmates tend to be a pretty conservative group.

Hmmmm. maybe something in the conservative mindset tends to make someone a criminal?

[loose wheel]

30. That isn't correct

It's that a lot of the inmates have kids and realize the pedophiles could go after their kids. A lot of inmates also have a history where they were abused as children.

[Initech]

11. No punishment is appropriate enough for these pieces of shit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. The guy in Kansas lives nearby

I know one of his neighbors. She said they had absolutely no idea he was involved with this.

[Odin2005]

13. Put these sub-human scumbags against the wall and shoot them.

[lindysalsagal]

16. That's when my anti-capital punishment stance crumbles

I really would hope that if there is undeniable evidence that someone has exploited a child, they should be gone. Unfortunately, the sentences are usually limited. It's probably because children can't vote....

[2ndAmForComputers]

24. Mine doesn't. Lock them up forever.

In solitary.

No death penalty. No exceptions.

[FedUpWithIt All]

14. I am physically ill.

I become so filled with rage and disgust it makes me physically ill.

We have to support the agencies that are doing this work. This cycle has to be slowed, i wish it could be stopped.


My heart is with those children. I wish them peace and healing and protection. This same to all of our children who are forced, too often alone, to navigate this very damaged world. Too often, they don't stand a chance.

[Egalitarian Thug]

17. Absolutely and irrevocably opposed to the death penalty, but as long as it exists, these are who

deserve to receive it.

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. someone who is turned on by photos of toddlers being raped is obviously not right in the head

It goes without saying that one must protect children from such dastardly deeds. It goes without saying that people who do such things must be stopped by whatever means is necessary. But is it plausible that anyone consciously choose to have such twisted and harmful compulsions?

[cali]

23. No, it's not plausible that anyone consciously chooses it

but it is conceivable that some people choose to act on it and others do not.

In the long run, understanding the root causes of such a compulsion and getting help for children who may develop into active pedophiles because they were abused or because of any other reason, is important. In the short and the long run, protecting children from these ghastly deviants, is vital.

[Aerows]

25. Horrific

Just absolutely horrific. One of these bastards took pictures of a child in a goddamn roasting pan. The sexual abuse is bad enough, but discussing eating the child and sticking the poor boy in a roasting pan? My God.

This entire story is so awful it makes me want to cry. What in the hell is wrong with these people?

[zazen]

27. x-post with latest breaking news

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014185205

[Smilo]

28. I worked with a guy who

was incredibly nice, would always help me and others - just going above and beyond for everyone.

He was married with two lovely little girls. The day he was arrested for child molestation - was just shocking for all who worked with him - absolutely no idea.

The people that prey on children are the scum of the earth.

[proverbialwisdom]

31. UPDATE: Puppeteer to accept child porn plea deal

http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2012/oct/30/memeto2-puppeteer-to-accept-child-porn-plea-deal-ar-548413/

Puppeteer to accept child porn plea deal

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 30, 2012

TAMPA -- A puppeteer who entertained children all over the Tampa area for years will admit his guilt to federal child pornography charges, including that he possessed images of children who were bound, tortured and deceased, according to a federal court filing.

Ronald William Brown, 57, of Largo, was arrested in July as part of an international investigation conducted by federal Homeland Security agents based in Boston. Until his arrest, Brown was listed in the Pinellas County Schools speakers' directory as puppetry speaker for grades K-8.

<>

Agents who searched Brown's home found a computer, CDs, DVDs, microdisks, cameras and a thumb drive that contained hundreds of images of child pornography, including some showing children bound and tortured, as well as hundreds of images of deceased children, according to his signed plea agreement.

In an online conversation with someone who sent Brown some of the images, Brown wrote of one boy, "Would love to snuff him," the plea agreement states. "I like the tied boy. Looks like he will be killed." And he said, "The tied ones are best."

A forensic review of Brown's computer showed he visited websites about dead and drowned boys. He admitted to participating in chats about strangling children, according to his plea agreement. He also admitted chatting about the killing and cannibalism of toddlers and discussing a particular boy he knew from church.

Officials said Brown's arrest arises from an investigation that began with the arrest in Massachusetts of Robert Diduca, 48, who was sentenced in June to 18 years in federal prison. A photo found on Diduca's computer led to 33 arrests, eight in the U.S., according to a June news release from the Department of Homeland Security.

[proverbialwisdom]

32. Link from http://protect.org/

More at link.