OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla. – A disturbing discovery in a rural Florida county has sheriff’s deputies investigating whether a 59-year-old man is a would-be child kidnapper.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office said an unrelated investigation into Thomas McClain revealed he was looking up sexual abuse material online depicting children and animals.
But they said they’re also investigating whether McClain did more than just look. In just the last week, there have been two attempted child abductions reported in the area.
The first happened in the Dewberry Farms area on Jan. 15.
Detectives said a family told them a man driving a red truck pulled up next to a 4-year-old girl and told her she was “cute” and motioned for her to come closer.
The girl did not go near the man and she was unharmed.
The second incident happened Saturday morning.
A family told detectives a man driving a white van offered their 14-year-old son money to get in. He did not.
Detectives are investigating if McClain was the driver in either or both of the incidents, though the family of the 14-year-old says they don’t believe he was the man who approached their son.
McClain was charged with six counts of possession of child pornography, four counts of transmission of child pornography and three counts of sexual activity involving animals, in addition to charges related to the initial investigation.
Detective Ashley Rojas initiated a criminal investigation against Thomas Elton McClain Jr (59) following a tip received...
Posted by Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, January 23, 2024