WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Nanny Case Turns into Nationwide Investigation
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St. Albans, Vermont - June 24, 2009
Another day, another alias for the nanny accused of molestation in Grand Isle County. Police say they've discovered a fifth name the nanny goes by and nearly 20 cities he's lived in. They fear he could have other victims in those cities. Now police say this has become a nationwide investigation with numerous law enforcement agencies on alert looking for potential victims.
"This is one of the more complex cases we have investigated," said Det. Ben Katz, of the Northwest Unit for Special Investigations.
Complex, because the accused pedophile nanny traveled the country, allegedly looking for nanny jobs and summer camp work; oftentimes using a fake name. His true identity is Donald Shepherd. But the 23-year-old went by the aliases Douglas Shepherd, Jonathan Shepherd, Parker Wilder and Jonathan Fields.
"There are so many different aliases and Mr. Shepherd traveled the country to so many different places," Katz said.
Katz investigates sex crimes for the Northwest Unit for Special Investigations or NUSI. He calls this case one of the most disturbing he's worked on. Shepherd admitted to Katz that he sexually abused a 10-year-old boy in Grand Isle County.
Shepherd is known online as a pedophile activist. Blogs across the country warn of his attraction to children. And Katz uncovered evidence that Shepherd may have sought jobs working with kids in nearly 20 cities across the U.S., including:
"Mr. Shepherd had many different aliases and screen names at many different nanny networking sites. Pretty much daily we are getting contacted by these nanny networking sites saying that Mr. Shepherd raised red flags and they are not surprised by these charges," Katz said. "I believe there is a high risk that there might be other victims out there. At this point we are pretty confident there are no other victims in Vermont. We are turning the focus of the case to the national level."
NUSI is reaching out to law enforcement agencies across the country to assist in this investigation. And the case is expected to go federal once Shepherd's electronic equipment is analyzed by investigators. That still hasn't been done; there's been no rush since he's in custody. But it is expected to happen in the next few weeks. Police say they are certain they will find thousands of images of child porn since Shepherd himself says they will.
Shepherd's father worked as a clown at children's parties in Florida. Shepherd initially told police that he used to photograph kids at those parties. But police say that doesn't appear to be the case. Shepherd's father told police that he suspected his son was a pedophile. They've been estranged for about seven years.
Darren Perron - WCAX News
Related Stories:
State Paid Nanny Accused of Molestation
Expert: Accused Nanny Likely Victimized Others
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