By the FBI
After the abduction and sexual assault of a young girl in the small community of Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania, law enforcement searched tirelessly for the perpetrator as the community feared for children’s safety.
But for nearly two decades, the offender eluded the FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police—until earlier this year.
After the September 19, 1999 assault, the state police, with FBI assistance, chased down every lead.
They pulled over cars that matched the description the victim provided, searched through sex offender registries, and conducted forensic interviews with the victim.
Despite these efforts, the assailant could not be identified.
But when the victim guided police to the exact location of her assault, police found key pieces of evidence, including a paper bag with the offender’s fingerprint.
Examiners at the FBI’s Laboratory tested the evidence, but there was no match on the partial fingerprint—another dead end for investigators.
Even after transferring to another job in the department about 10 years after the crime occurred, Pennsylvania State Trooper Jeffrey Brock continued to investigate this case for another decade.
“There was a sense of duty to finish the investigation,” Brock said.
“Any investigator has that one case they wish they’d finished, and that was mine. I just kept working on it. I wanted to get justice for that girl and her family.”
In trying to find new approaches to move the investigation forward, Brock asked a now-retired FBI agent for advice.
As one of the investigative steps they tried, the agent had the fingerprint re-checked in fall 2018.
“I just kept working on it. I wanted to get justice for that girl and her family.”
Jeffrey Brock, Pennsylvania State Trooper
Soon after, Brock received the call he had been waiting for—there was a hit on the fingerprint.
Timothy David Nelson, Jr., of nearby Cumberland, Maryland, was arrested, and he later pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual abuse charges.
(Police and FBI say technology has helped them to solve a 20-year-old kidnapping cold case in Somerset County using DNA and fingerprints Courtesy of CBS Pittsburgh and YouTube. Posted on Jan 10, 2019.)
Last month, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
In the years following the crime, the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division launched the Next Generation Identification system to enhance its biometric capabilities.
Now, the system’s search algorithm can pick up the most minute detail on fingerprint fiction ridges.
The new system leads to faster and more accurate results.
So although no match could be found in 1999, the FBI’s advancements in fingerprint technology helped investigators solve the case after almost 20 years.
“For months and years after this crime, people were afraid,” said Robert Allan Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office.
“Working these cold cases allows us to bring some closure to the victim and the community.”
Original post https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/fingerprint-technology-helps-solve-cold-case-091319
Learn More…
(In custody now, Timothy David Nelson was caught and charged with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl with the help of DNA evidence and a state trooper who never gave up the hunt. Courtesy of NBC News and YouTube. Posted on Jan 10, 2019.)
MD Man Gets 30 Years in 1999 Kidnapping & Sexual Assault of 10 Yr Old
A resident of Cumberland, MD, has been sentenced in federal court to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act on his conviction of kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse of person under 12 years old, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Timothy D. Nelson, Jr., 50.
According to information presented to the court, on September 19, 1999, Nelson drove into a Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania, neighborhood and drove past a group of three minor females multiple times.
The group was walking when the vehicle came by one more time, stopped, and Nelson exited his car and asked them a question.
As the minor victim, a 10-year old girl, began to answer, Nelson grabbed the minor victim and placed her in the car through the driver’s side and exited the area.
Nelson then placed the minor victim on the floor of the front passenger seat.
While driving away from the area of the abduction, Nelson threatened the minor victim with a handgun pointing it at her head.
At some point, Nelson drove the car and the minor victim into West Virginia.
When Nelson eventually stopped the car, he forced the minor victim to perform a sex act.
Afterwards, Nelson gave the minor victim a paper bag and napkin to clean herself with.
Nelson also cleaned himself and then discarded the bag out the window.
Nelson then drove the vehicle in the direction of Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, and shortly after crossing the Pennsylvania line from West Virginia, dropped the minor victim off on the side of the road, instructed her to count to 100, and then proceed to a location to call her mother.
Subsequently, another vehicle happened upon the minor victim who was in distress and offered her assistance.
Law enforcement responded, to include the Pennsylvania State Police.
The minor victim was subsequently able to direct law enforcement to the location of the sexual assault and the brown paper bag and napkin were recovered which appeared to contain evidence of the above-described assault.
The evidence was subsequently forensically examined and determined to contain multiple partial fingerprints and DNA extracted from the bodily fluids.
Certain of the recovered partial prints were identified as originating from the minor victim.
There remained unidentified latent prints and a search through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), did not return any results at that time.
Likewise, the FBI Lab was successfully able to identify a suitable DNA profile at that time, but when compared to the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database, no matches were detected.
In April 2004, the FBI Laboratory reported that a DNA profile generated from evidence from a different kidnapping/sexual assault of another minor female, which occurred in September 1988 in Hagerstown, Maryland, was a match to the DNA profile of the 1999 Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania kidnapping event.
This match was made from the FBI CODIS database, but the identity of the perpetrator of these crimes was still unknown at that time.
Over the years, advancements were made to IAFIS and the new fingerprint identification system called Next Generation Identification system (NGI) came into existence.
(In September of 2014, the FBI retired its old fingerprint system and replaced it with the Next Generation Identification System. The $1.2 billion NGI program sends digital fingerprints to agents in the field and uses facial recognition technology to help them track down suspected terrorists. Courtesy of ABC7 WJLA and YouTube. Posted on May 9, 2016.)
In the Fall of 2018, the partial prints obtained from the brown paper bag and napkin were re-submitted to NGI to search for a possible match.
NGI identified a possible match with a person identified as Timothy David Nelson.
The FBI Laboratory subsequently confirmed the partial prints as a match to Timothy David Nelson, Jr., who was living in Maryland.
On January 7, 2019, an arrest warrant was issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charging Nelson with multiple offenses to include, but not limited to, Kidnapping and Aggravated Indecent Assault.
Also, a federal search warrant was issued for Nelson’s DNA.
On January 8, 2019, Nelson arrived at the Cumberland (MD) City Police Department and the Pennsylvania arrest warrant and the federal DNA search warrant were executed.
Subsequent forensic analysis proved that Nelson’s DNA was a match for the 1999 Cairnbrook kidnapping on September 19, 1999, as well as a match to two separate kidnappings/sexual assaults on minor females from 1988 and 1989 in Maryland.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Brady commended the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Nelson.
DOJ Project Safe Childhood Honored with 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award
Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
-
‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
-
DOJ BJA
Project Safe Neighborhoods Program
(Learn about the BJA Project Safe Neighborhoods Program with coverage of the programs May implementation in Birmingham, Alabama. Courtesy of CBS 42 and YouTube. Posted on May 18, 2018.)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
-
‘Excellence in Homeland Security’
-
Violent Crimes against Children (VCAC) program
(FBI Special Agent Danielle Messineo, who works in the Crimes Against Children division, tries to prevent future victims by giving presentations to schoolchildren. Courtesy of the USA Network and YouTube.)
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!
Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory
- The Department of Homeland Security
- The Department of Justice
- The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Viasat, Hanwha Techwin, Lenel, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., BriefCam, Pivot3, Milestone Systems, Allied Universal, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
Proud Sponsors of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program include ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Desktop Alert.
Time is Running Out to Receive the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!
Enter the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Today at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/
Eligible “Government Excellence Award” Nominations are Complimentary, in Appreciation for Service.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
Why the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
Enter Soon to Maximize Media Coverage of your Products and Services at Kickoff, and Get the Recognition Your Organization Deserves!
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Acknowledge the Most Distinguished Vendors of Physical, IT, Cyber, Port of Entry Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Perimeter Protection, Communications as well as Federal, State, County and Municipal Government Agencies in Acknowledgment of Their Outstanding Efforts to: ‘Keep our Nation Safe – One City at a Time.’
Please see our 2019 List of Categories which include a broad spectrum of opportunities for your organization to compete – and whether you represent a Homeland Physical Security Vendor, a Technology Security Vendor, or a Federal, State or Municipal Agency, we urge you to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to Compete and Distinguish Your Achievements from your competitors.
Time is Running Out to Enter the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards and Receive the Recognition your Organization Deserves at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
(Learn More about the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program from Mike Madsen, Publisher, during an impromptu interview following the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony at ISC East, on November 14th, 2018. Courtesy of AST and YouTube.)
2018 Government Excellence Award Winners in the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
The following Government Agencies were recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards:
-
Argonne National Laboratory, Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST)
-
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – DARPA, Subterranean (SubT) Challenge
(Learn About the DARPA Subterranean Challenge working with multidisciplinary teams from around the world to compete in the development of the autonomy, perception, networking, and mobility technologies necessary to map explore and search underground networks in unpredictable conditions. Courtesy of DARPAtv and YouTube.)
-
Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Project Safe Childhood
-
Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Project Safe Neighborhoods Program
-
Department of Justice (DOJ) Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of Personnel Management, Federal Risk Mgmt Process Training (FedRMPTP)
-
DHS Federal Protective Service, Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST)
-
DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK)
(The Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) is a gps communications tool that runs on a mobile device. It improves situational awareness by allowing users to know where their mission partners are located, regardless of affiliation, improves communications through a variety of applications and was successfully used in 2017 Hurricane operations in Houston and Puerto Rico. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)
-
DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environ (EDGE) Virtual Online Training for First Responders
(DHS S&T’s Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment (EDGE) virtual training platform provides a safe, immersive environment where first responders, and now educators, can hone their skills and prepare for a multitude of incident responses. Built on the same video gaming platforms as popular titles like Fortnite, EDGE was intentionally designed to be easily accessed, easily used, and easily integrated into agencies’ existing training protocols. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)
-
DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Flood Apex Program Flood Sensors
-
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),Violent Crimes against Children (VCAC) program
(Learn About the FBI VCAC Program, and hear from Special Agent Danielle Messineo, who works in the Crimes Against Children division, trying to prevent future victims by giving presentations to schoolchildren. Courtesy of USA Network and YouTube.)
-
International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals (IACP), IACSP Training and Technology
-
Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), United States Multi-Service, Multi-Agency Task Force
-
Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Detection & Emergency Response to envelopes containing the deadly poison ricin at a Pentagon mail screening facility
(Learn About the Joint Interagency Task Force South on Key West, Florida, a multi-agency, international alliance whose mission is to cover 42 million square miles of territory primarily in Central and South America to stem the flow of illegal drugs and to disrupt and dismantle sophisticated narco-trafficking networks. Much of that work is carried out on the high seas. Courtesy of Doug Brumbaugh and YouTube.)
-
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP Entry/Exit Program
-
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU)
(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operates the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) within the National Security Investigations Division (NSID). Preceded by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, HSI has more than 30 years of experience in successfully investigating human rights violators. The unit conducts investigations focused on human rights violations in an effort to prevent the United States from becoming a safe haven to those individuals who engage in the commission of war crimes, genocide, torture and other forms of serious human rights abuses from conflicts around the globe. When foreign war crimes suspects, persecutors and human rights abusers are identified within U.S. borders, the unit utilizes its powers and authorities to the fullest extent of the law to investigate, prosecute and, whenever possible, remove any such offenders from the United States. Courtesy of ICE and YouTube.)
Individuals Recognized for ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’ in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program are as follows:
-
Edward Reinhold, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI (Ret)
-
Joel McNelly, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
-
Matt Quillen, Bristol Virginia Police Department
-
Stanley I. White, Counterintelligence Advisor, the International Association for Counterrorism & Security Professionals (IACSP)
-
Thomas Homan, Acting Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Ret)
-
Thomas O’Connor, President of the FBI Agents Association
2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program Industry Experts Include
Ameristar Perimeter Security, ATI Systems (Acoustic Technology Inc.), Attivo Networks, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Entrust Datacard, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global,
ISS – Intelligent Security Systems, Ivanti, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Milestone Systems, Lenel, LRAD Corporation, Milestone Systems,
Orolia, NICE, Pivot3, Rave Mobile Safety, Royal Holdings, Senstar Corporation, Smiths Detection, SolarWinds, Verint, Viasat, and More!
For a complete list of award winners, click here.
2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon
AST focuses on New and Evolving Security Threats at All Levels of Homeland Security and Public Safety for personnel who are on the front lines of protecting our communities, cities and nation.The highlight of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program will be the Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East at the Javits Convention Center on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.
AST reaches both the private and public experts, essential to meeting today’s growing security challenges.
For Luncheon Sponsorship Opportunities and More, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com or call 732.233.8119 (mobile) or 646-450-6027 (office).
Proud Sponsors of the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program include ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Desktop Alert.
Be sure to Register Early for the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East 2019 to ensure your place at this limited- space event!
Why American Security Today?
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
The old traditional security marketplace has been covered by a host of security publications that have changed little over many years.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that provides our readers with solutions to their challenges.
Our Editorial staff provides a full plate of topics for our AST monthly digital editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
The editorial calendar and AST’s high drawing website features 23 different Technology and Marketing Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into vital Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other Potential targets of terrorism.These sectors are part of the new integration, where these major applications communicate with one another in a variety of solutions to protect our cities and critical infrastructure.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – enticing targets for extremist or lone wolf attacks due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
