MONROE COUNTY, Tennessee — Former Monroe County paramedic Nathan Westbrook is facing federal charges after authorities say he uploaded and shared child pornography via the Kik messaging app, according to court records.
Westbrook, who was employed by Monroe County EMS before his termination, came under investigation after a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cybertip flagged activity involving the distribution of child pornography on Kik. On February 21, 2025, a Knoxville Police Department detective confirmed that six video files uploaded by a Kik user contained child sexual abuse material.
Further investigation revealed that one of the videos had been shared with another Kik user and a Kik messaging group on December 28, 2024. Using an administrative subpoena, authorities obtained subscriber information linked to an IP address and traced it to an apartment in West Knoxville where Westbrook resided. Database checks confirmed the Kik account’s associated email belonged to Westbrook.
On July 8, law enforcement secured a federal search warrant for Westbrook’s residence and vehicle. On July 11, Knoxville Police and Homeland Security agents executed the warrant. During questioning, Westbrook admitted to using the Kik username “GhostR2467” and acknowledged the email linked to the account was his. He also confirmed that child pornography would be found on his devices and admitted to distributing the material in Kik groups, including one named “Cheese Pizza” — a known euphemism for child pornography.
Blount County Mayor Mitch Ingram issued a statement underscoring the seriousness of the case and emphasizing the priority of community safety while respecting due process. Monroe County EMS Director Randy White affirmed that the actions of one individual do not reflect the department’s values and reaffirmed the EMS commitment to professional and ethical standards.
Westbrook is currently held at the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The investigation remains active.
