Online Luring of 10-Year-Old Manitoba Girl Linked to Ohio Suspect

Community Safety Alert – Cross-Border Child Exploitation Case

In December 2025, investigators with the Manitoba RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit uncovered a case involving a 10-year-old Manitoba girl who was lured online and pressured into sending sexually explicit images and video to a person she believed was a teenage boy. The contact began on a popular social media platform and later shifted to text messaging, where the suspect continued to groom and exploit the child.

A family member who discovered the disturbing messages and images immediately notified RCMP. Through forensic review of the electronic devices involved, investigators determined that the person communicating with the victim was in fact an adult male living in the United States, not a youth as he had claimed. The case quickly became a cross-border investigation involving both Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Official Incident and Charge Details

The Manitoba RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit examined the online conversations and explicit content located on the victim’s devices. Their analysis indicated that an adult male had impersonated a teen boy on social media, then moved the communication to text messages, where he groomed the girl and induced her to send intimate images and videos. The suspect also transmitted explicit images of himself to the child.

After determining the suspect’s location was in the United States, Manitoba RCMP sought the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) through the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. On February 12, HSI Special Agents based in Cleveland executed a search warrant at a residence in Wadsworth, Ohio. During the operation, officers arrested the suspect and seized multiple electronic devices, which, according to officials, contained evidence of the communications with the Manitoba child.

U.S. authorities have identified the accused as Courtney Arden Wise III, age 32, of Wadsworth, Ohio. He has been charged in the United States with the following offences:

• Sexual exploitation of children
• Receipt of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct
• Possession of child pornography

The suspect remains in custody in Ohio. U.S. law enforcement officials believe there may be additional child victims and are continuing their investigation into possible further offences. There is no active request for public assistance in identifying this suspect or locating additional victims at this time; however, anyone with concerns about a child’s online safety is urged to contact their local police or RCMP detachment.

This case highlights the importance of vigilant digital supervision for families in communities across Manitoba, from major centres to smaller or remote areas such as Little Grand Rapids 14 crime and safety statistics, where access to high‑speed internet and social media is increasingly common.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident is a stark reminder that online child luring can originate from anywhere in the world and still reach children in our Manitoba communities. Offenders may pose as peers, build trust over time, and then coerce children into sharing intimate images or engaging in explicit conversations. Because these crimes are often hidden in private chats and direct messages, family awareness and open communication are critical.

To help reduce risk, parents and guardians should regularly discuss online behaviour with children, know which apps and platforms they use, and encourage them to report any interaction that feels secretive, sexualized, or uncomfortable. Securing devices with parental controls, limiting contact to known friends and family, and reviewing privacy settings can add additional layers of protection. If you suspect a child is being exploited online, contact your local police or RCMP immediately and preserve any messages or images as potential evidence. Our mission at CrimeCanada.ca is to support safer communities by connecting official incident data with practical safety awareness, whether you live in a large urban centre or a smaller region like Hole or Hollow Water 10 and surrounding Manitoba communities.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the manitoba community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.