Huntingburg works with Children Task Force to make child exploitation arrest

In September 2025, detectives with the Huntingburg Police Department and Dubois County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation after receiving a Cyber Tip Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) pertaining to Child Sex Abuse Material/Child Exploitation.

The Cyber Tip was generated by Media Lab/Kik and included video files depicting child sex abuse material. Through the investigation, it was determined that the user of the Kik account that uploaded and distributed the files was 19-year-old, Eli J. Lehmkuhler of Jasper.

During the morning of October 10th, 2025, multiple search warrants were executed in Jasper. Detectives from the Huntingburg Police Department were assisted by investigators with the Jasper Police Department, Dubois County Sheriff’s Office, Ferdinand Police Department, Dubois County Prosecutor’s Office, and Indiana State Police. During the search, numerous electronic devices were seized and will be searched for additional Child Sex Abuse Material.

As a result of the investigation, on October 10th, 2025, Eli J. Lehmkuhler, was taken into custody and booked into the Dubois County Security Center for Child Exploitation/Possession of CSAM (Level 4 Felony), Child Exploitation/Possession of CSAM (Level 5 Felony), and Distribution of an Intimate Image (A Misdemeanor).

This investigation was led by Huntingburg Detectives, affiliated members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The Indiana ICAC is a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.

The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). To learn more about the Indiana ICAC Task Force or to access NCMEC, go to Indiana ICAC Task Force website at https://internetcrimesagainstkids.com. To report a crime against your child involving the Internet or other electronic means, please contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency.

The Huntingburg Police Department emphasizes that the filing of the information is merely an allegation, and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.