Editor's Note: The following is a press release issued Friday by the Washington State Patrol.
(Olympia)—The Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MECTF) now believes there may be additional victims in a child pornography and molestation case that developed early this week.
They are seeking information from adults or children who might have information about contacts with 20-year old Christopher M. Dupea of Spanaway. Dupea is currently in the Pierce County Jail on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.
The case came to light on Monday, and quickly evolved into service of search warrants and two arrests on Thursday.
“Because of media reports about the arrest we got a call from someone in Arizona who’d had online contact with Mr. Dupea,” said Lt. Ron Mead, MECTF commander. “That and other information leads us to believe there may be additional victims.”
Dupea used the screen name “ChrisD,” and might have used other names as well. He is not currently known to have travelled to Arizona, but detectives believe he might have had online contact with persons there. They are also concerned about live contacts with potential victims in the Pierce County area.
A second suspect, 20-year old Myriah L. Moreland, remains in the Grays Harbor County Jail. Information obtained by detectives indicates she had engaged in sexual acts involving an infant son.
Detectives praised the online chat service, Skout.com, for quickly bringing the case to light.
“This service did absolutely the right thing and we appreciate it,” Mead said. “They monitored how their system was being used, and took action when they found something that didn’t look right.”
Anyone with information about possible additional victims should call (360) 507-6300.
