DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — The Davidson County Sheriff's Office said a 13-year-old girl from Texas met 34-year-old Jorge Camacho online. Camacho talked the girl into leaving home where he picked her up and brought her back to Davidson County.
Investigators say this case highlighted the importance of monitoring teens online and warning them of the dangers.
The case is just one of many cases the sheriff's office has seen just this year alone.
In 2021, the county saw 93 child exploitation cases up from just 13 back in 2016.
Investigating cases like this isn’t easy.
“They work these cases so hard and it takes time to work these cases. It’s not an overnight case like larceny or something. You almost have to work these cases like a homicide. There’s a lot of search warrants-involved paperwork, so it’s very lengthy," Captain Stephanie Murphy with the Criminal Investigations Division in Davidson County said.
"With internet crimes against children, we receive cyber tips, and through the steps, we identify victims and suspects. We also have to look at the images that were sent toward us, and I have to distinguish if those are child pornography or not. It’s a job that most people tend to not like, but it has to be done and it’s important,” said Amber McBride, with the Forsyth County Investigative Services department.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said they have also seen a rise.
Yet, there's a way we as a community can help law enforcement fight this.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office along with Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office needs parents to monitor their child's phones and make them aware of the dangers that lurk on the internet.
“It’s a bad thing with this individual, but we know for sure that he will never do it to another child. Not only were we able to stop him, but we will also convict him as well. We are going to build a strong case, he will never do this again to any child, and that’s very rewarding,” Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons said.
The sheriff’s offices also say they need more funding in order to add more investigators to these criminal investigation divisions.
The Davidson County sheriff made a plea to county commissioners - to consider adding 12 new positions to the sheriff's office to specifically work in the criminal investigation division.
When county commissioners discuss the budget for next year, they will consider this proposal.
A decision won't be made until June.
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