Sources: St. Louis County Sheriff's Office news releases
Late in the day on March 5, 2025, the St. Louis Sheriff’s Office received information from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) regarding several Cybertips involving child exploitation. Cybertips are received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) when an electronic service provider detects child exploitation material on their network.
After the tips are received by NCMEC, they are forwarded to a state law enforcement agency, who then determines the exact location of the incident and then contacts local law enforcement. One of the tips in this case involved the solicitation of a minor who lived in the state of Georgia. Another of the tips involved an individual receiving child sexual abuse material. Throughout the investigation, it was learned the suspect in both tips lived in Eveleth, MN and was employed by Rock Ridge High School.
On March 6, 2025, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office personnel, along with agents from the BCA, Officers from the Lake Superior Forensic Technology and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (LSFT&ICACTF), and other local law-enforcement executed multiple search warrants in the cities of Virginia and Eveleth. The suspect was located and questioned, and multiple items of evidence were collected. No arrests have been made at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
At this time, the Sheriff’s Office has no information to indicate there are any local victims or that any students at Rock Ridge High School are involved. As this is an open investigation, no additional information can be released at this time.
Concerned citizens can contact Sgt. Eric Sathers of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office at 218-336-4311.
UPDATE
On 3/18/2025 around 7:00 P.M., The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address on Auburn Avenue in the City of Eveleth in attempt to locate an individual on the above investigation.
Christopher Chad of Eveleth was located and arrested for a felony warrant out of the State of Georgia stemming from the investigation. Chad was lodged at the St. Louis County jail pending extradition to Georgia where he will face criminal charges.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Christopher John Chad, DOB 12/25/1973 was taken into custody on an arrest warrant out of Fulton County, GA for the charge of "obscene internet contact with a child - Felony." Chad will be held at the St. Louis County jail pending extradition.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office also has an open investigation involving Chad for receiving child sexual abuse material, which originated from a cybertip unrelated to the Fulton County case. Currently, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office has no reason to believe there are any local victims.