JOSEPH ANDREW BRAGG, New allegations have emerged involving the Maple Grove, Minnesota man accused of kidnapping a 7-year-old Zimmerman girl, with a former girlfriend claiming he previously engaged in inappropriate behavior involving her young daughter, which led to Child Protection Services becoming involved.
The claims surfaced one day after Joseph Andrew Bragg, 28, was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Brynlee Nelson, a 7-year-old girl reported missing after getting off a school bus in Zimmerman on Wednesday afternoon. Bragg was taken into custody early Thursday morning after an AMBER Alert helped authorities track his vehicle along Interstate 35, according to Albert Lea police.
Bragg was charged with kidnapping and booked into the Freeborn County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
Following his arrest, members of the community began sharing concerns about Bragg’s past behavior. Multiple reports indicated that he had been active for nearly a year in Minnesota babysitting and childcare Facebook groups, frequently offering childcare services and responding to posts from parents seeking help with their children. One post previously shared by Affordable Babysitters of Minnesota welcomed Joseph Bragg as a new member.
Among the most serious claims came from Bragg’s former girlfriend, Katelyn Rounsville, who alleged that while they were dating during the COVID period, Bragg engaged in inappropriate conduct involving her then 4-year-old daughter. Rounsville stated that the situation resulted in a report to Child Protection Services and an investigation by authorities.
In a public statement, Rounsville said she contacted the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office to provide information related to her allegations. She claimed her daughter disclosed the incident to a teacher, prompting an investigation and medical evaluation. Rounsville stated that the relationship ended following the allegations and that the experience had a lasting emotional impact on her child.
Rounsville also alleged that other women later contacted her, claiming Bragg had attempted to form relationships with them while showing interest in their young children. She said she warned those individuals about her experience.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the details of the additional allegations, and it remains unclear whether they are part of the current criminal investigation. The kidnapping case involving Brynlee Nelson remains under investigation as law enforcement continues to review evidence and gather information.
