Brynlee Nelson Found Safe After Abduction; Joseph Andrew Bragg Arrested in Southern Minnesota AMBER Alert Case

A 7-year-old girl reported missing in Sherburne County, Minnesota, was found safe early Thursday morning following a swift law enforcement response and a multi-agency AMBER Alert. Authorities have arrested 28-year-old Joseph Andrew Bragg of Maple Grove in connection with the child’s disappearance.

Brynlee Nelson was last seen Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 21, shortly after getting off her school bus near the 26000 block of 13th Street West in Zimmerman. She was wearing a black jacket, white boots, blue snow pants, a pink sweatshirt, and black pants underneath, and carried a backpack adorned with keychains and trinkets. Brynlee is approximately 4 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 70 pounds, and has blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Initial reports noted a black vehicle following the school bus, though it was unclear whether it was related to Brynlee’s disappearance. Sherburne County authorities issued a community alert at 9:47 p.m., followed by an official AMBER Alert at 11:40 p.m. after evidence indicated she may have been abducted.

In the early hours of Jan. 22, around 12:34 a.m., Albert Lea Police spotted a vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 35 that matched information from the active AMBER Alert. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the Albert Lea area and confirmed that Brynlee was inside the vehicle. She was safely recovered, and Bragg was taken into custody on suspicion of kidnapping.

Brynlee was immediately transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for a medical evaluation and was later reunited with her family. The incident involved coordinated efforts from the Albert Lea Police Department, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, and Mayo Ambulance Service.

Authorities confirmed that Bragg has no known permanent address and no previous criminal history in Minnesota. Officials also noted that Bragg was a stranger to Brynlee’s family, though a minor “social media” connection exists, which investigators are exploring. Formal charges are expected in the coming days.

Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office praised the coordinated response and the role of community volunteers, stating, “We want to thank the numerous law enforcement and first responders who assisted in the search. We also want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who came out to assist in the search.”

Investigators are continuing to gather information regarding the circumstances of Brynlee’s abduction and Bragg’s motives. Authorities emphasized the importance of public awareness and interagency coordination during AMBER Alerts, which are designed to rapidly mobilize the public and law enforcement in cases of child abduction.