SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — More than 80 child victims have been identified in the United States in connection to a man accused of grooming and having children make pornography, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office announced.
In a video news release, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Demetrius Carl Davis, 24.
Davis is suspected of portraying himself as an 11-year-old girl named "Lizzy" online and speaking with children in an effort to groom them. Deputies said Davis would then direct the children to make child pornography that showed them in sexual acts with siblings or other kids. Davis is also accused of speaking to victims in sexually explicit language and sending them child pornography videos.
"What's particularly heinous about this is that this grooming led up to our suspect asking these children to perform sexual acts on their siblings, other relatives and other kids that they know and film it and then send that video to our suspect," Sgt. Rod Grassmann, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told ABC10.
The sheriff's office began investigating Davis after getting a tip about an account suspected of uploading child sex abuse material online.
Deputies served a search warrant on Dec. 1, 2021 and found screen recordings that showed children engaged in sexual acts. Investigators said they found numerous files in cellphones and accounts that he was using to communicate.
"At that time, we did not have enough evidence to arrest him on site, but we took all those electronics," Grassmann said. "Over the last several months, we have forensically analyzed all of those and have identified 80 different victims and an additional 15 to 20 internationally, which we have not identified yet."
While 80 child victims have been identified across the country, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is also working on identifying more than 15 others believed to be victims residing internationally. The victims vary in age but deputies say they range between six and 13 years old.
Grassman said he is "certain" more victims in the United States will be identified as the investigation continues.
A map showing the victims' locations shared by the sheriff's department showed 11 victims are from Indiana, the most of any state in the U.S.
A detailed list shared with 13News from our sister station, ABC10 in Sacramento, shows seven of the victims were from Kokomo, ranging in age from 10 to 13 years old, including one victim who had yet to be identified. A 12-year-old and a 13-year-old from Indianapolis were also listed among the victims, along with a 6-year-old and an 11-year-old in Hobart in northwest Indiana.
The sheriff's office said Davis could have spoken with more than 100 children between late 2020 and Dec. 2021. Deputies are asking parents to check their children's electronic devices and contact the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force if they think their child sent any illicit materials to someone named "Lizzy."
"Every electronic device connected to the internet is like an open window to the entire world. You have no idea who is talking to your child," Grassmann said.
Davis was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail Tuesday on suspicion of committing a lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to the sheriff's office website.
The full video news release can be viewed here.
Keeping kids safe online
Central Indiana police departments are urging parents to monitor their child’s devices and that starts with monitoring what they do and who they talk to online.
“Even when you are not around, if there are certain devices where you can remote in and see what your children are doing, you should utilize those apps,” said IMPD Ofc. William Young. “Anything you can do to monitor what your kid is doing, because when it boils down to it, it’s for their safety.”
Young said parents should also remind their children not to give out addresses or personal information online. It’s important to also know their passwords and limit certain apps that aren’t appropriate.
“Once it’s out there, it’s out there,” Young said.
The FBI provides the following tips to protect you and your children online:
1. Be selective about what you share online, especially your personal information and passwords. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you or your children.
2. Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
3. Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that a person is who they claim to be.
4. Be suspicious if you meet someone on a game or app and they ask you to start talking to them on a different platform.
5. Encourage your children to report suspicious behavior to a trusted adult.
If you believe you or someone you know is the victim of sextortion:
1. Contact your local FBI field office, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (1-800-THE-LOST or Cybertipline.org).
2. Do not delete anything before law enforcement is able to review it.
3. Tell law enforcement everything about the encounters you had online; it may be embarrassing, but it is necessary to find the offender.