A couple from Springfield, Missouri, Justin Johiah Curtright, 40, and Christin Marie Curtright, 32, have been arrested and charged with transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual activity. The charges follow allegations that they groomed a 13-year-old girl online before abducting her from Virginia.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed last week, the victim initially met Justin Curtright on Discord in May 2024. The platform facilitated extensive communication between them, during which the victim used an alias and claimed to be 18 years old. Over time, their conversations took on a sexual nature, culminating in Justin sending a sexually explicit video of himself.
Subsequently, Justin added the victim to a private Discord channel that included his wife Christin. Communication continued extensively both online and by phone until the victim revealed her true age of 13. During this period, the Curtrights allegedly engaged in sexually explicit acts on-camera while video chatting with the victim.
By late June 2024, the couple had devised a plan to travel to southern Virginia to abduct the girl and take her back to their apartment in Springfield. On July 24, as planned, they met near her home in Virginia and transported her back to Missouri. It is alleged that during this journey both took turns sexually assaulting her while driving.
Once at their apartment in Springfield, it is claimed they continued abusing her until July 27 when officers from the Springfield Police Department found her hiding in a closet within their bedroom. Authorities discovered she had been given a debit card and false ID by Justin Curtright representing her as his daughter.
The police seized phones belonging to the Curtrights containing recordings of video chats showing grooming activities and images documenting abuse during transit to Missouri.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee announced these developments alongside Stanley M. Meador from the FBI’s Richmond Division. "If convicted," they noted that "the Curtrights face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment."
The case was investigated by various agencies including the FBI and Springfield Police Department with Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman prosecuting for the government.
It is important to remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.