A Friend Request. A Missing 7-Year-Old. What Every Parent Needs to Know

About this episode

A Facebook friend request. A mother who blocked him. A 7-year-old who never made it home from her school bus. Hidden True Crime’s Lauren Matthias examines the Joseph Andrew Bragg case in Zimmerman, Minnesota—and the disturbing allegations every parent needs to understand. Through charging documents, reported messages, and accounts from families, we explore how Bragg allegedly sought access to children through babysitting offers, online childcare groups, and contact with mothers. What did parents notice, what raised investigators’ suspicions, and how can someone use familiarity to gain a family’s trust? This episode unpacks the child abduction investigation, alleged grooming of parents, and the warning signs behind offers of free childcare, with practical lessons about social media privacy, vetting babysitters, and talking to children about boundaries and safety. Sponsors: HomeServe: Join the millions of customers who trust HomeServe. For 50% less your first year, go to https://www.homeserve.com/hidden Jones Road Beauty: Use code HIDDEN at https://jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad About Hidden True Crime What started as a sim