'John Doe 49' arrested

'John Doe 49' has been arrested but his identity won't be released until arraingment.

FBI

OMAHA, Neb. — An individual identified as "John Doe 49," sought by the FBI for critical information regarding the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation, has been arrested outside of Nebraska and Iowa. The FBI has confirmed the arrest but is withholding the individual’s name until after his arraignment.

John Doe 49, a white male described as 45 to 65 years old, bald, with a dark goatee and distinctive tattoos, was featured in a poster and photographs released through the FBI’s Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP). His identifying tattoos include the word "Dabby" on his chest and "197" on his left bicep.

The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recorded footage believed to date before July 2024. The FBI has yet to confirm the involvement of the individual in any criminal activity, emphasizing that he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The arrest is part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and ECAP, which aim to identify both child victims and adults depicted in child sexual abuse material. The public is encouraged to continue submitting relevant information to tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.