MN B. N.: Missing from Zimmerman, MN - 21 Jan 2026 - Age 7 *Found Safe*

https://bnonews.com/index.php/2026/01/minnesota-amber-alert-brynlee-nelson-missing-in-zimmerman/

Minnesota Amber Alert: B. N. missing from Zimmerman​

A Minnesota Amber Alert has been issued for 7-year-old B. N. after she was possibly abducted after getting off a school bus in Zimmerman, north of Minneapolis, officials say. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 immediately.

B was last seen at 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday after getting off a school bus in the 26000 block of 13th Street West in Zimmerman, about 33 miles northwest of Minneapolis, according to the amber alert. Details are still limited.

According to police, a black car was seen following the school bus but it’s still unclear whether B got entered the vehicle or if it’s related to the case in any way. An amber alert issued just before midnight described it as a child abduction.

B is a 7-year-old white female with blonde hair and hazel eyes, standing 4 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 70 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, white boots and blue snow pants while carrying a backpack with keychains and trinkets. She was wearing a pink sweatshirt and black pants underneath her winter clothing.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Oop. Found safe! More details coming I’m sure.

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[GrandmaBear]

Glad you did a thread. Makes it even more real. Hits being here more than others maybe and she's so young. It's so cold. I just can't think of a good outcome unless a family member took her. No reason to think that, just the best chance she'd have imo...

Abduction is bad. If she is lost, and alone, that is bad.

Really hoping for good news on it. Such limited info so far as it says.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Oop. Found safe! More details coming I’m sure.

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OMG I am SO glad!!! Was typing and posting my last one when I saw you posted something.

I'd sure like to know what the heck this was but just overwhelmed with happiness that she is SAFE!!! And ALIVE!!

 

[GrandmaBear]

Wow just reading all the posts on that FB link... It certainly hit people hard, I think it does when it is near you, it sure did me.

One post said she was abducted and this was a lot of miles away, another said to check the grandma's page. More.

You are probably better for that as I don't do FB and haven't for a few years.

She sure had a lot of people looking and praying and as many said in this very cold weather as far as searching and coming out.

The cold weather scared me almost as much as abduction.

We truly do not have many alerts here and I know Wi is easier about issuing than than some states and MN I am not as sure about but they did issue it with no certainty of a stranger or vehicle... It may well have made the difference.

This still could be a family abduction. Little known. So if you see stuff on FB for instance, I would appreciate knowing what it appears to be.

Am up way later than normal due to this alert. Just couldn't quite settle down after it. Still can't honestly.

 

[RoundPeg]

Someone said she was found in Albert Lea? (Lee?)

 

[RoundPeg]

 

[RoundPeg]

This guy is in Freeburn County Jail. I may have spelled that wrong.

Anyway, his name is Joseph Bragg and he's been charged with kidnapping. The time fits.

Can't get attachment to add.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Someone said she was found in Albert Lea? (Lee?)

I saw that too. Didn't it say it was like 120 mile away or something like that??

 

[GrandmaBear]

This guy is in Freeburn County Jail. I may have spelled that wrong.

Anyway, his name is Joseph Bragg and he's been charged with kidnapping. The time fits.

Can't get attachment to add.

Why does that name sound familiar? Maybe I've just seen the last name before or something. It can't sound familiar for any other reason I don't think...

Well this doesn't sound good... I sure hope it is her father or something... Because I don't want her to have been hurt in any way...

 

[GrandmaBear]

This guy is in Freeburn County Jail. I may have spelled that wrong.

Anyway, his name is Joseph Bragg and he's been charged with kidnapping. The time fits.

Can't get attachment to add.

Can I ask how you found that? MN never used to have online court records although I have to admit I haven't looked in a number of years just because I thought they didn't have them...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Someone said that's almost 3 hours away and near IA. Wow. Looking back at that FB post...

 

[GrandmaBear]

A post says it was her father, that if one looks at his FB page there is a child on it with him that looks like it could be her. However, another says it was a stalker who waited for the perfect time and the car had been recently stolen. I guess both could be true--or one--or neither.

 

[RoundPeg]

Can I ask how you found that? MN never used to have online court records although I have to admit I haven't looked in a number of years just because I thought they didn't have them...

I saw his name in a post and then went to that county's inmate roster.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I saw his name in a post and then went to that county's inmate roster.

Oh that makes sense. I just finished reading the posts and did see his name in there more than once.

 

[GrandmaBear]

They were on the interstate... Someone called the vehicle in thinking it might be related to B. I don't see how that is possible, we never got a vehicle description, unless it was a cop or something...? Not a lot more info here but some. He is from Maple Grove. Young (28) but still could be her father, not sure of connection if any...

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/amber-alert-suspect-in-girls-abduction-is-maple-grove-man-arrested-in-albert-lea#:~:text=Officers%20in%20the%20area%20pulled,if%20the%20abduction%20was%20random.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Here is a Reddit post. It could of course be totally false so take with a grain of salt.

Very close friends with the family. He was apparently casing the neighborhood for some time before grabbing her. He is also a member of the FB group "Affordable babysitters of Minnesota"....this man is a predator and thankfully from what we know she was NOT hurt other than some superficial wounds.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Albert Lea police arrest alleged abductor tied to Sherburne County AMB...

The suspect in an abduction of a 7-year-old child that set off an AMBER Alert Wednesday was arrested in the Albert Lea area early Thursday morning after his vehicle was seen on Interstate 35.

www.albertleatribune.com

Albert Lea police arrest alleged abductor tied to Sherburne County AMBER Alert​

At about 12:34 a.m. Thursday, Albert Lea police were notified of a vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 35 that was potentially associated with the active AMBER Alert. Officers located the vehicle in the Albert Lea area and conducted a traffic stop, according to a press release.

During the investigation, officers confirmed a juvenile female inside the vehicle was B. N. She was safely recovered, and Joseph Andrew Bragg, a 28-year-old man from Maple Grove, was taken into custody.

B was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for medical evaluation and was later reunited with her family.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Scary he was on the Interstate and how far away already.

There has to be more to this. You likely aren't going to see a child in nor recognize a car on the Interstate at this time when dark and at what speed. Okay they had determined he had actually got into a separate rental truck. Thinking they had a plate... MAYBE his cell phone played in... I'm sure they were getting info just as fast as they could...

We certainly received no further notice with these details so not sure how any motorist would have known either...

He sure doesn't look like her so not so sure the "one" person thinking he is her dad is correct. Others seem to not think so...

Sure waiting for more info on this...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Just watching myself. I didn't see it until now so didn't catch it live. IF anything new, will report back.