On June 12, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations and Fiscalía General De Justicia Del Estado de Tamaulipas in Mexico coordinated and assisted the FWPD with the arrest of two United States Citizens wanted in Fort Wayne, Indiana in a child sexual abuse investigation.
Fort Wayne Police Department incident report:
Date: June 13, 2024
Time: 08:06 hours
Suspect Arrested #1: Kirk W. Depoister, 49 years old
Preliminary Charges:
- Promotion of Human Sexual Trafficking, a Level 4 Felony
- Child Exploitation, a Level 5 Felony
Suspect Arrested #2: Stephanie N. Followell, 41 years old
Preliminary Charges:
- Promotion of Human Sexual Trafficking, a Level 4 Felony
- Possession Of Child Pornography, a Level 6 Felony
- Sexual Misconduct With A Minor, a Level 4 Felony
- Incest
- Sexual Misconduct With A Minor, a Level 5 Felony
Details/Summary:
On May 18, 2022, a minor disclosed Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) by Stephanie Followell at a residence in the 4000 block of Oliver Street. Kirk Depoister was present during that incident. Detective Michelle Brown, a detective from the FWPD Crimes Against Persons Section (CAPS), was assigned as the lead investigator.
Police were called back to the residence on July 21, 2022 as the other investigation progressed. Mr. Depoister allegedly threatened a different minor with a baseball bat. Detective Chris Crapser was assigned to investigate. Detective Crapser discovered that the two defendants were allegedly trafficking the second minor and videotaping their criminal exploits. Other detectives from CAPS assisted Detective Brown and Detective Crapser execute a search warrant at the residence. Both defendants were present at that time, but fled Allen County as the investigations progressed.Detectives Brown and Crapser were also assisted by the Dr. Bill Lewis Center For Children, the Indiana Department of Child Services-Allen County, and the Fort Wayne Police Department Victims Assistance.
On June 12, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations Matamoros (HSI Matamoros), HSI Harlingen, HSI Fort Wayne, and Fiscalía General De Justicia Del Estado de Tamaulipas (FGJT) in Mexico coordinated and assisted the Fort Wayne Police Department with the arrest of two United States Citizens; Stephanie Followell and Kirk Depoister. FGJT arrested and transported both defendants to the Gateway International Port of Entry where they were turned over to US Custom and Border Protection and HSI.
We would like to thank our federal and local partners for their concerted efforts to bring these two alleged defendants to justice.
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