Jerry Bovaird pulls up a picture of Edward Chrispen who was arrested on May 5, 2001. Chrispen's brief case contained internet photographs of self mutilation and bondage and copies of conversations with children in chat rooms describing his sexual fantasies. According to experts, those most at risk online are youths older than 15 because they can find ways to meet sexual predators. Most children who run away are girls between 13 and 17. They enter chat rooms and begin developing relationships with children.
Predators often begin sending young correspondents child pornography.
The process can take from a few months to a year, and can occur with many children at a time. Rodriguez said this can lead to a meeting and even sexual abuse. Accurate records of these crimes are hard to keep. Some kids don't feel comfortable enough telling their parents. An organization that patrols the World Wide Web and checks anonymous tips on cybercrimes is called Cyberangels.