ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARRESTS SPRINGFIELD MAN FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIALS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2025
November 24, 2025
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 4 Special Agents arrested 68-year-old Merle E. Monroe of Springfield, IL for charges related to possessing child sexual abuse materials.
On October 8, 2024, ISP initiated a child sexual abuse materials investigation in Springfield. Special Agents assigned to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force gathered digital evidence and identified Monroe as the suspect.
On November 19, 2025, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Monroe with five counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) and three counts of Possession of Child Pornography (Class 3 Felony). On November 24, 2025, ISP Special Agents located and arrested Monroe. He is being held at the Sangamon County Jail.
ISP provides resources for parents, for the public to report crimes against children, and victims to start their path towards healing and recovery. Anonymous tips of child sexual abuse materials can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) cyber tip line at www.cybertipline.com. To keep kids safe online, learn more at: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/onlinesafe/ ; www.cybertipline.org ; For resources for survivors of sexual abuse visit: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources.
Merle E. Monroe, (M/68)
The charges are not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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