HILLIARD, FL — A multi-agency investigation has led to the arrest of a 72-year-old man living in an RV in Hilliard. Frederick John Combs was taken into custody on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, following a digital forensic probe that uncovered both child exploitation material and depictions of animal abuse.
The investigation was conducted by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of the INTERCEPT task force’s ongoing efforts.
Digital Trail Leads to RV Search
The case originated on January 5, 2026, after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) flagged a cyber tip involving three illegal files uploaded to the internet. Detectives tracked the digital activity to an RV parked on a private property in Hilliard.
Upon executing a search warrant, investigators examined Combs’ electronic devices and discovered:
- Child Exploitation: Images and videos consistent with the initial NCMEC alert.
- Animal Abuse: Specific files depicting sexual acts involving humans and animals.
Charges and Bail
Combs was booked into the Nassau County Jail without incident. According to jail records, he faces three felony counts with a total bond set at $45,006:
- 2 Counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
- 1 Count of Possession of Image/Video of Animal Sexual Activity
“Sick and Disturbing”
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper issued a stern statement following the arrest, emphasizing the department’s commitment to purging such content from the community.
“This individual is sick and disturbing, and there is no place in our community for this kind of behavior,” Sheriff Leeper said. “We will continue to work aggressively with our federal partners to identify, investigate, and arrest those who exploit children.”