A distinctive tattoo spotted in a distressing Snapchat video led authorities to a New Jersey woman, now charged with the sexual abuse of a child in her care. This crucial identification sprang the investigation into motion, alerting law enforcement to a troubling case.
Victoria Anne Cranmer has been charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree sexual assault, second-degree production of child sexual abuse material, third-degree endangerment of a child’s welfare, and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, according to court documents accessed by Jersey Shore Online.
The investigation commenced on May 20, spearheaded by Little Egg Harbor Police alongside the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. They were alerted by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, according to court records seen by the publication.
Initially, investigators spoke with a woman identified as Ms. H, who discovered a video allegedly showing her young son inappropriately touching Cranmer’s exposed genitals, as court records detail. It was noted by police that Cranmer provided babysitting services for Ms. H’s son, as well as the daughter of another woman, Ms. P.
The affidavit, supported by information from NJ.com, revealed further context: Cranmer resided with Ms. P, who had gifted the 25-year-old an iPhone for her birthday in April. This gift unwittingly became a linchpin in uncovering the alarming video evidence.
When the pair had a falling out Cranmer moved out and Ms. P told investigators that she’d asked for the phone back.
While looking through the device, Ms. P allegedly discovered a 14-second video saved in Cranmer’s Snapchat memories that showed a child being sexually abused, authorities said.
Ms. P was able to identify the woman in the video as Cranmer because of a distinctive tattoo on her leg of “boobs, a lightning bolt and a mushroom,” police noted in the affidavit.
The witness saved the video and then handed the device over to police, who obtained a search warrant and uncovered more Snapchat videos of Cranmer with the child, according to the court records.
In one video, per the affidavit, Cranmer was allegedly sitting on a toilet with her genitals exposed as a child touched her. The video also showed her laughing and talking with the child, police said.
Cranmer was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail, where she’s currently being held without bond, according to jail records reviewed by Oxygen.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for July 14. Its unclear whether she has retained an attorney.