BAINBRIDGE, GA — Joseph Murphy, 40, of Bainbridge, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children following an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
In October 2024, the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit began investigating Murphy’s online activities after receiving a Cyber Tipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report suggested possible possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material by Murphy.
The investigation culminated in a search warrant at Murphy’s home, leading to his arrest. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, GBI’s Thomasville regional office, the Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, and the GBI’s HEAT unit all assisted in the operation.
Murphy is currently held in the Decatur County Jail.
This arrest is part of the ongoing efforts by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which is housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. The ICAC program was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the rising issue of online child exploitation, as increasing numbers of children and teenagers are using the internet, exposing them to the dangers of online predators and child abuse material.
Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is encouraged to contact the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report it through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at Cybertipline.org.
