A Miami-Dade County, Florida, deputy sheriff was taken into custody and federally indicted on Wednesday on two counts of child exploitation. Carle Miranda Blum, 51, is alleged to have received and created explicit visual content involving minors. The charges are linked to accusations that Blum engaged in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, during which explicit videos were exchanged.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida claims that Blum filmed herself in sexual acts with the minor and crossed state lines to meet her. The relationship reportedly deteriorated, with Blum allegedly threatening the girl’s life.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office was notified of the situation on July 14, following a tip that Blum was involved with an underage girl. The girl was detained under the Baker Act while trying to board a flight to Miami, the day after her 18th birthday. Blum was at the airport to retrieve her luggage.
A witness reported to authorities that the girl’s mental health had significantly deteriorated during her alleged involvement with Blum. Upon inspection of the teenager’s cellphone, authorities reportedly found numerous explicit videos featuring Blum and the girl, including two instances where Blum appeared to be choking the teenager.
Further examination of the messages exchanged between Blum and the girl suggested a romantic or sexual relationship. Blum allegedly kept a countdown to the girl’s 18th birthday, promising to marry her and referring to her as her “wife.” The complaint cites messages dating back to February, which included explicit photos and videos sent by the girl to Blum. Some of Blum’s messages were reportedly violent in nature.
When the relationship began to deteriorate and the girl attempted to end it, Blum allegedly responded with explicit threats. One message read, “Leave me and see what happens.” Another stated, “I will f—ing drive my favorite knife thru your throat and watch you [die] slowly. I swear on my [grandparents].”
Authorities learned that Blum planned to visit the girl in Atlanta, Georgia, once she was discharged from the hospital. Blum was subsequently arrested in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero Stutz, in a statement to local CBS affiliate WFOR, described the charges as “very disturbing,” and a “betrayal of the badge, the public trust, and the oath we swear to uphold.” She added, “The actions alleged stand in direct opposition to everything we represent as law enforcement officers and as human beings.”