That's what I said. >> I stopped. >> Mhm. >> But, I just cuz I didn't want it to come to this. >> Mhm. On November 21st, 2024, Snapchat submitted a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited after identifying illegal explicit material on its platform. What followed was a months-long investigation that eventually led authorities to a residence in Southern Illinois and the search warrant you're about to see executed. You live in apartment B? >> Yes. >> Well, we need to talk to you guys. So, you want to come on in with us? I have a search warrant for your residence. Okay, come on. Come on in with us till we can get everything secure and then we'll talk some more. Yeah. Yeah, let's just do that. Just stay here. Is the door unlocked? >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Sheriff's office, open the door. Who's in the residence? >> Dakota. >> Dakota. >> This is Dakota, the 21-year-old man that deputies will soon learn is behind the fake Snapchat account created solely for the purpose of sending and receiving illegal explicit content. But, as of now, they're only aware of the fact that the account was used from the IP address, which comes back to this residence. But, Dakota will soon help investigators narrow their list of suspects down to just himself. >> So, there's three people left inside? >> I'm back here. >> Back there? >> There. You got anything on you? All right, buddy. Stand right here with him. What's your name, man? >> Dakota. >> Okay, Dakota. Stand right over here. Come back over here, Christian. Come out here, Christian. >> Can you tell me what this is about, please? >> Yes, I will in just a moment. >> All right. >> As the search gets underway, the investigator returns to his vehicle to retrieve a copy of the search warrant to serve Dakota's father and briefly explains the nature of the investigation and why authorities are at the residence. Okay, so as far as the process real quick, um they're going to start They're going to do some overall photographs. You're the apartment holder? >> Yeah. >> It's your apartment. There's a copy of the search warrant. Um just to explain the process, they're going to take some photographs, they're going to start the search. I'll probably talk to each one of you individually and we'll just kind of go from there, okay? Right now, nobody's in trouble for anything. Uh nobody's in custody for anything. It's just uh investigation at this point, okay? So, as we're going through here, I'm going to go ahead and explain you guys' legal rights. It don't mean you're guilty of anything. It's just because we're detaining you for this investigation. I have to advise it, okay? >> [clears throat] >> You all have the right to remain silent. Do you understand those rights, sir? Do you understand your rights, Dakota? >> Yes, sir. >> You understand your rights? And you understand your rights? Okay. So, the reason we're here is my name's Bobby Wallace. I work with the Sheriff's Office. I also work as a task force officer for Homeland Security Investigations, where I work for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Uh I am here looking into a complaint regarding some inappropriate uh photographs sent through a Snapchat account. Uh the investigation has led me here, okay? That's what we kind of want to talk about. So, the reason for the search warrant is to further this investigation. Uh it's also to search, seize, and forensically analyze any electronic devices, cell phones, computers, electronic storage devices, stuff like that, okay? What we'll do is I'll go in and brief them really quick as far as when they can start their search and what they're looking for, and then we'll go out and talk, okay? All right. All right. Yes, if there's thumb drives, computers, stuff like that. This should be Kiersten's. That should be Kiersten's. >> It is. That's the female's. Yeah, the the black head is right there. >> Yep, he said should be a Motorola. >> Uh Danny's phone is over there. >> That's Danny's, yes. So, Danny says he should have an old laptop, too. He Okay. >> As investigators round up everyone's electronic devices from the residence, they notice that one device seems to be missing, and their attention shifts back to one person in particular. >> I think you are. It's Dakota. >> That's what I thought. >> Uh hey Dakota. What all electronic devices do you have in the house? >> Uh I had an iPhone. I don't have it anymore. It It was broken yesterday, day before yesterday. >> Okay. Uh what happened to the iPhone? >> Uh me and my girlfriend broke up, and >> Okay. >> I just got I break stuff when I get mad, and I just >> I got you. >> threw it on the floor, and >> Where is it now? Was it just broken? >> And um we were driving around trying to get it fixed, and I just tossed it out the window cuz Danny said she would get me a new one. Uh and >> Okay. Do you know what model it was? >> Uh 15 Pro Max. >> After the sketchy explanation about the missing phone, Dakota agrees to an interview inside the deputy's vehicle, and before the conversation is over, investigators will uncover much more than just the truth about what really happened to the missing device. >> All right, Dakota. So, I explained your rights earlier. Uh you understood what your rights were. Um do you know why what led me here today? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Um, so I received a cyber tip back in November uh, regarding a Snapchat account and there was some uh, inappropriate photographs shared in that Snapchat account. Uh, did you have a Snapchat? >> Probably, yeah. >> Okay. You, do you know what your Snapchat was? >> Um, I do not. >> Okay. So, when I do these investigations, I run into lots of different types of people. You know what I'm saying? Um, specifically this investigation is regarding uh, some files of child that were sent, okay? And what I mean by that is there were some files of a person who appeared to be under the age of 18 engaged in some conduct and then there was a couple more files that were just um, what you would call lewd exhibition. Uh, showing off their genitals, stuff like that. You know what I'm saying? Kind of like soft >> It's important to remember that at this point in the investigation, authorities have not yet confirmed who is actually behind the Snapchat account. They only know that the account was linked to this residence. However, given the circumstances surrounding Dakota's conveniently missing phone, investigators already have a strong suspicion about who they're dealing with. >> There wasn't a lot of it, so I think I understand the type of person I'm dealing with, but it's important to talk to people. And when I say the type of person I'm dealing with is sometimes even the people I deal with that are sharing child they're sometimes people that just happen to find stuff on the internet. Liked it, thought it was funny, shared it with somebody else either as a joke or out of a pleasure thing. Uh, there's even those people that will just simply download it in the privacy of their own home, pleasure themselves to it, and never ever hurt a Then on the other end of the spectrum, there is those people that get involved in this, they fantasize about it, and they end up actually harming You know what I'm saying? Which is why it's important when I talk to people to be honest with me so I can get a good gauge of who you are as a person, and that's what the whole point's about. So, I mean, if you did do something stupid like send some files that you shouldn't have, to me, that's not a big deal. Um I'm not saying it's not illegal, it's just to me, it's not a big deal because my job is to go out and find the monsters that's actually, you know, harming You know what I'm saying? So, with that in mind, do you know any you know anything about this Snapchat that I'm referring to? Okay. >> It took the investigator all but 3 minutes to break him down. After spending the first part of the interview carefully distancing himself from the account and its activity, Dakota finally begins acknowledging his involvement. And what starts as a simple admission quickly turns into a much more candid conversation. >> Tell me about it. >> I I don't Well, >> [clears throat] >> I don't >> Well, here's what I saw. It looked like I saw somebody that was sharing some p- with other people. And then, for some of the people, they maybe asked for some younger stuff. And then, that person just shared it with them. That That's what I saw. I didn't see somebody that was out, you know, making homemade video tapes and selling it and that kind of stuff. Because I can tell you what I've done already as I do have the entire contents of that Snapchat account to a search warrant. So, I've read all the chats. I've read all the messages. I've seen all the pictures, everything that's inside that account, you know, so I mean, I understand what was going on as far as that goes. And I got a pretty good understanding and the person that I was seeing is not the monster that's out there. It's somebody that was just doing some stuff online and that was it. That's what I saw. >> a problem and I just I stopped. But I just cuz I didn't want it to come to this. I mean, I've never done that to a girl like I mean, after that happened, that Mhm. So, when you say you had a problem Help me through that. Help me through that. >> Okay, so I've been with the with my girlfriend. Her name is We've been together like 6 years and I mean, it's just we don't really do nothing. So, I'm just always just I don't want to get You know what I mean? I'm just always like >> Okay. >> Like I do it myself cuz she's not really a sexual person and I guess it just kind of developed into seeing I wanted to see people I knew, so I created a fake Snapchat. >> Yeah. Okay. And do you remember what that Snapchat was? >> I don't. I've been doing a lot of drugs and then it's just >> No, I'm with you. >> As the conversation continues, Dakota begins drifting into broader discussions about his personal struggles and drug use. While those issues may help explain parts of his situation, they aren't the focus of this investigation and the investigator does an excellent job of keeping the conversation on track. >> Well, like I said, let's talk about the Snapchat real quick. What was What was the Snapchat name? >> I really don't remember it. >> Mhm. Do you remember anything about it? Was it a male name, female name? >> Probably female. >> Okay. [snorts] Uh Is there anything you can remember about it? >> I I don't want to remember it. >> Okay. And you said you kind of had a problem with So, when did the the underage come come into play? >> I didn't really I was sent some files like that and I didn't They were just kind of mass files I would get so I wouldn't really look through all of them and I was looking through it like one day and I had seen it and I was like, "What the fuck?" >> So, I do know that your account shared those files with some other accounts. Do you remember about how many people you shared that with? So, if I said somewhere around between six and 10, would that be? >> I really don't know. >> Okay. Don't really know. >> I didn't really >> You do remember sharing it, you just don't remember how many people. Okay. And you remember what led you to sharing it? >> Just that they would send me pictures. >> Okay. And then I [snorts] know we talked about some emails. Are you familiar with an email Zoey Berry? What Gmail? >> That was probably the one you used to make the account. >> Yeah. Okay. >> With Dakota now opening up about his involvement, the investigator sees the perfect opportunity to shift the focus back to the missing phone. While the admissions are important, the device itself could prove even more valuable to the investigation as digital evidence often plays a critical role in solidifying a case like this. And as investigators are about to learn, the phone's disappearance had nothing to do with a breakup. >> And now as far as your phone goes, so what really happened to your phone? >> It's back there in the woods. >> Okay. >> It's broke. >> You broke it, threw it in the woods. Okay. >> [snorts] >> The uh And then why did you do that? >> Because after all of his mom called us, I kind of >> kind of knew we were coming. >> two and two together. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And Yeah. Okay. Um so, is this kind of the first time you've gotten any child files? Okay. >> This is a while ago. >> Yeah, that was a while ago. So, is there child files on your phone? >> No. >> Okay. None? >> [snorts] >> Okay. Besides these, has there ever been any? >> Um I I've got like Dropbox stuff like Google or just but there No, there shouldn't be. >> Okay. Okay. And then, [snorts] is there anything we haven't discussed today? So, the other thing I bring up and you said your girlfriend's name is So, I bring this up because it happens a lot, okay? At some point, people find out about these investigations. Um and that's when, you know what I say when I say the uh the saying with the skeletons come out of the closet? You know what I mean by that, okay? Um I've had several cases where once people find out about the investigation, now they come forward talking about complaints >> [snorts] >> involving you possibly one of their I'm just saying that's happened in the past. >> Uh I was going to say I've never done that. >> That's what I was going to ask. Is there going to be any chance of somebody coming forward and accusing you of anything? >> No. >> Okay. And I And I firmly believe that. I really do. So, what I'm going to have you do, if it's okay with you, is I will get one of the other officers and would you be willing to go show them where that phone is? >> [snorts] >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Yeah, if you just want to come out with me and we'll go we'll go do that. And then, I know I didn't tell you this earlier, I'm not taking you in custody today. You know what I'm saying? I do my full investigation. I review everything and I'm going to let the state's attorney make that decision cuz sometimes we come to the conclusion of not filing charges. It just depends on the circumstances. >> For now, Dakota is free to leave. But while this interview may be coming to an end, the investigation is far from over. As you'll see later, today's conversation is only the beginning of a much larger outcome. With the questioning now largely complete, the conversation begins to shift away from the investigation itself and toward the personal toll the situation is taking on him. >> I've I kind [clears throat] of need to you I kind of need to tell you what I talked to this about. >> Yeah, for sure. >> I do have a problem with this. I didn't want it to come to this. >> Okay. And is the problem with just regular >> It's just >> Yeah. >> Man, I feel like I have no one and it's just like we started moving maybe 2 months ago. >> Yeah. >> And it's just there's been so much going on and it's just >> Mhm. So the other only other thing I'll have ask is through the course of the search warrant. I mean, if there's stuff in the house, they're probably going to find it. >> There's just you're just going to find drugs, honestly. >> And what kind of drugs? >> Weed and pills. >> Okay. No [snorts] meth or anything like that? >> No. [clears throat] >> Okay. What kind of pills are we talking about? >> Ecstasy. >> Some of them yours or >> They're It's everything is mine, yeah. >> Okay. And where are they at? >> They have it. It's in the safe. I will show them. >> Okay. [snorts] Did they open the safe already? >> Yeah, they had the bag. >> Okay. >> The assisting deputy escorts Dakota to the woods to retrieve the ditched phone. And with the man admitting to being the person responsible for the Snapchat account, investigators no longer need to sort through every possible suspect. Armed with that information, the investigator returns inside to update the rest of the team. >> You want to come on in? Says "Look, that are in the safe is >> Who said that? >> Dakota. >> Okay. >> He says the pills should be ecstasy. >> Mhm. And the And the other pills are Xanax? >> Yeah. And then it should just be weed. >> Right. >> Was there anything else found? >> That's it. Well, a bunch of thumb drives, laptops, that type of stuff. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, let's take the drugs. We're not going to take any of the other electronics. >> Oh, you're not going to take any of the other electronics? >> He can pass everything. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Yeah. The one Mullenex is walking with in the >> Yes. What code did he do or >> Yeah. >> What code did he do in the woods? >> His phone. He's taking Mullenex to show him where he hid >> Oh, [ __ ] >> When did he hide that in the woods? >> Yesterday. >> Oh, because >> We called Mom called. So, he figured we were coming, so he hid He broke his phone and threw it in the woods. Yeah. >> With the direction of the investigation now becoming clear, the conversation shifts from collecting evidence to addressing the difficult reality of what investigators have uncovered. >> Can I talk to you privately? >> Mhm. Yeah, for sure. >> I have trouble walking. >> No, you're okay. You're okay. Mhm. Uh Dakota had shared some inappropriate files through Snapchat. Uh involving some Mhm. Yeah. >> Uh like what age? >> That's all I can tell you. >> that's I mean that's you know >> Well, you can assume what age it is, I understand. But, I'm not >> Got you. >> I'm not at liberty to say much more. >> All right. All right. I just wanted to know what's going on. >> Mhm. >> I got something on my phone and it was I tried to find out what it was. It was a and I looked up and it really worried me and bothered me. It's I I have no clue where it came from. >> Yeah. >> And you know, so but it was just one text. >> Yeah. >> And >> What did it say? >> It just basically said something about a person, a former girlfriend of his. >> Uh-huh. >> And uh that they they could send me information and pictures and things like that. Like >> Okay, a former girlfriend of who? >> Dakota. >> Okay. >> But that's all I know. >> And they could send you >> That's uh information, whatever. >> Okay. >> But yeah. >> Whatever that means, one can only assume it's nothing good. But the assisting deputy returns with Dakota and the missing phone. And the condition of the device tells investigators everything they need to know. >> Hey Dakota, can I ask you a couple questions but oh. Um Hey, where did you get your ex from, bud? Just be real with me. >> We had this talk a long time >> Hey, it doesn't leave here. It doesn't leave here. What's up? Okay. You want to walk back there? >> Yep. >> Well, here real quick. Here, hold on. Here, Dakota, real quick. Have you sign right here. This is what we took. We took the safe with the with the stuff and then the iPhone. Okay, and we'll put broken here. I'll give you a receipt. >> He's going to give you >> We had a number >> discussion about that too. >> There you [snorts] go. >> Got it? >> Valuable not. >> With the search complete and the evidence collected, investigators leave the residence and Dakota remains free. But the case continues moving forward behind the scenes and charging decisions are made. And just over 2 weeks later, investigators return to the residence and this time the outcome is much different. >> What's going on, Dakota? >> I'm not >> I'm sorry. >> Hey, buddy. >> Hey, pal. >> What happened to you? >> I fell out of a car. >> I heard that. The We want to get the dog to be back inside. What's his name? >> Leo. >> Leo? >> Am I in trouble? >> Yes. >> Leo? >> We got a warrant issued for your ass, so is there anything on you we can't take? >> Leo? >> A warrant for what? >> Trafficking. >> I need to sit down. >> Okay. Let's uh >> My stuff >> Step right over here. He's going to check check you. Let me >> Let me tell Danny what is >> Is this all current or something or what's going on? >> I fell out of a car a couple days ago. >> Like >> Hey Danny. >> Today? >> No, a couple days ago. >> Okay. Okay. I'm going to check you. You ain't got nothing on you, no pepper spray or anything like that? >> How did you fall out of the vehicle? >> Oops, [snorts] sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> No, yeah. The front The front. >> I mean the middle. >> No, he's got that cut on the front. >> I'm sorry. I'm going to get it. I'll grab it. >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> Any medication or anything you're taking for this or Okay. Okay. Let's just walk with him. We'll walk out to my vehicle here. We'll walk down to my truck over here. >> This happened yesterday you fell out of the vehicle? >> A couple days ago. >> A couple days ago? Now, I know you're all beat and banged up and injured and everything, but you're not going to get froggy on the way to the county. You're You're not going to get froggy or squirrelly on the way to county. Okay. Just hang tight in there. I didn't know he's that bad. We need to My goodness. >> Nearly 10 months after investigators executed the search warrant at Dakota's residence, the case reached its conclusion in court. Dakota Martin ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of reproducing child of a victim under the age of a class X felony under Illinois law. He was gifted a massive 30-year sentence to be served at the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by 3 years of mandatory supervised release. As part of the resolution of the case, the remaining two charges were dismissed. What are your thoughts on this case? Please leave a like, subscribe, and comment your thoughts below. Thanks for watching.