Galveston police rescued a 12-year-old girl who was abducted after being lured through social media, charging a suspect with kidnapping and sexual assault of a child.
Authorities say Graham Michael Dunn is a serial sexual offender with active investigations and pending charges in multiple states, including Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Kentucky and Louisiana.
The investigation began Sept. 30 after the 12-year-old girl went missing while walking her dog.
Officers learned from an emergency phone ping that the child was near the 8700 block of Seawall Boulevard.
With the assistance of multiple agencies, including the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the University of Texas Medical Center Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, law enforcement deployed drones and a helicopter to search the area.
Officer Nino’s persistence in accessing hotel surveillance helped locate the child, who was recovered safely, and led to the suspect’s arrest.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly used social media to lure the child, though officials are not releasing specific platforms due to ongoing investigations.
The suspect faces three felony charges: one count of aggravated kidnapping with sexual assault, with a bond of $500,000, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, for which prosecutors are requesting no-bond hearings.
Authorities said he has fled previous jurisdictions to avoid court proceedings and continued offending while out on bond or probation.
Police advised families to monitor social media, turn off location services and consistently supervise their children.
Galveston County District Attorney Ken Cusick called the case “one of the most disgusting situations I’ve heard of” in his 37 years as a prosecutor and said authorities would seek the maximum sentence.
Police emphasized that the child and family did nothing wrong and that the community should be able to safely enjoy public spaces.