FBI Says Child Sexual Abuse Case Has Local Ties, Agency Seeks Public's Help

The Federal Bureau of Investigation asked Wednesday for the public's help in identifying two women who they think can help them find a suspected child sexual predator.

The case– which has ties to Desert Hot Springs and San Bernardino County– involves images and videos of a child engaging in sexually explicit activities, according to a press release from the Los Angeles field office of the FBI.  Authorities say it's believed the abuse is ongoing and has been happening for the lase several years by an unidentified male.

Two unidentified women are sought, as they are "linked to digital evidence," in the case, according to Bill Lewis, the assistant director of the L.A. office.

"The unidentified women pictured in digital images and/or video are not seen actively engaged in the abuse of a child; however, may be able to provide valuable details regarding the identity of a victim," the press release states.

"FBI investigators are seeking these individuals because it appears from digital evidence that they have been in contact with the victim and may be in a position to assist with identification efforts," it continues.  "No charges have been filed in this case and the individuals pictured in photographs being released are presumed innocent at this time."

Images of the child first surfaced in 2012, and were documented by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  Those images "...continue to be circulated in numerous child pornography forums on the Internet," the FBI release states.

Local Ties

"Information gathered from multiple images relevant to the above-referenced investigation have led investigators to believe that the individuals with whom the FBI would like to speak, as well as the victim and/or the suspect, may possibly have ties to Los Angeles, Riverside or San Bernardino Counties," the press release says.

Further elaborating, the FBI said that some of the images found in the sexually explicit content involve the victim swimming at a hotel located in the Desert Hot Springs area.

It's believed the victim may have been at the Desert Hot Springs facility on March 16, 2010.

There  is also a red San Bernardino County "junior fire marshal" hat pictured in some images, according to the FBI.

The women sought are described as follows: 

Jane Doe #25:
RACE: White 
PROBABLE AGE: Likely between the ages of 18 and 25
HAIR: Dark in color
TATTOO: Large outline of a wing tattoo covering most of her back. The tattoo may have been enhanced with color since the date of the image being released.

Jane Doe #26: 
RACE: Possibly Hispanic
PROBABLE AGE: Likely between the ages of 25 and 35
HAIR: DARK
EYES: BROWN

Anyone with information should contact the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. A tip may also be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov/