Eagle-eyed plane passenger spots man texting about child sex abuse
A sharp-eyed airline passenger spotted another passenger texting about sexually assaulting children, leading officers to arrest two people and find two young victims.
Police said they arrested Michael Kellar, 56, at San Jose airport on Monday night local time after a flight from Seattle.
Kellar's texts led officers to arrest Gail Burnworth, 50, in her Tacoma home.
Kellar also lives in that city.
It appears two children, aged five and seven, were sexually assaulted, investigators said.
Authorities say Burnworth had access to children as a baby-sitter and that Kellar was getting to the victims through her.
Seattle and San Jose police declined to discuss the children's relationship to the suspects and how Kellar and Burnworth knew each other.
The plane passenger told authorities that Kellar was sitting in front of her and texting about the abuse with a large font on a large smartphone.
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The font and screen were so big that the passenger was able to take photos of Kellar's text conversation, police said.
The passenger, who police didn't identify, alerted the flight crew.
A flight attendant notified an officer stationed at the airport, and Kellar was arrested.
He is accused of attempted child molestation and solicitation of a sex crime.
Burnworth was arrested on suspicion of child rape and sexual exploitation of children.
Kellar and Burnworth both remain in jail.
With AP
