Owatonna has once again found itself thrust into the spotlight, this time on an international level for undercover work done by a local detective.
A recent case in Essex, England, just wrapped up where an undercover Owatonna detective is being credited for stopping the kidnapping and murder of Holly Willoughby, a British television host. Gavin Plumb was convicted earlier this month of planning to kidnap, rape and murder Willoughby in October 2023.
According to Owatonna Police Chief Jeff Munday, the Owatonna Police Department Detective Unit uses online platforms to monitor criminal activity and chatter to gather intelligence. These investigations have no geographic boundaries and generally land in other states and countries, and are conducted across various and changing social media platforms searching for individuals with a criminal mind and intent to traffic minor children or persons that are seeking to hire for rape or murder.
In the Essex case, Plumb interacted online with the Owatonna detective (utilizing the alias “David Nelson”) looking for a murder-for-hire. Upon recognizing imminent danger to Willoughby, the detective alerted FBI authorities who contacted London Metropolitan Police and Essex Police. The coordination and quick action by law enforcement officials in both countries demonstrate the gravity of this situation and the effective teamwork this case presents.
“The brilliant work of our detective and his impact on saving lives and preventing future victimization of others is immeasurable,” Mundale said. “I am very proud of our detective’s work on this case and impressed by the tenacity shown in breaking into these online chats such as Abduct Lovers through Kik and his ability to identify plans to carry out such violent acts so they can be prevented.”
Mundale said this work requires a “creative ability to engage in online chats to build trust and a willingness to maintain an online presence.”
“While these online investigations are just part of this detective’s regular work, it is due to a strong commitment to and interest in working covert cases across various social media platforms that led to this case being discovered,” Mundale added.
According to Mundale, this particular detective focuses on cases involving sex trafficking of minors, murder and rape for hire and illegal transactions involving firearms and ammunition.
“We are fortunate to have a detective who is proficient in such online investigations and continues to demonstrate impressive skills in finding and engaging in chats where these illegal activities are being discussed,” he said. “This level of success is the result of personally investing time to develop the skills required to effectively infiltrate ever-changing online platforms … This work, while extremely tedious, positions law enforcement to apprehend dangerous individuals as they plan heinous crimes.”
Furthermore, Mundale said these efforts demonstrate the strength of “our partnerships among state, federal and international agencies” and the importance of law enforcement continually evolving to meet the ever-changing dynamics of public safety and how criminals leverage technology.
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