Content warning: This article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.
MURRAY – A Kentucky State Police detective testified in Calloway District Court Wednesday that investigators recovered hundreds of suspected child sexual abuse images from a Murray man’s Kik account and expect additional charges against the subject, who is already facing 20 felony counts.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen called Lloyd Ray, a detective with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crimes Branch, to testify about his investigation of 25-year-old Aidan Santos.
Ray, who was named Electronic Crimes Branch Detective of the Year in 2024, according to a KSP press release, explained that the social media platform Kik reported an account suspected of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a national organization that forwards cyber tips to law enforcement agencies.
The purpose of Wednesday’s hearing was to determine if there was sufficient evidence against Santos to bind the case over to the grand jury for indictment.
According to the testimony, KSP’s investigation was launched on Feb. 17, after NCMEC notified the agency about the cyber tip. Kik reported approximately 10 images of CSAM allegedly found on Santos’ account, one of which was a video showing a prepubescent girl sleeping in a bed with an unidentified male, who was using the child’s hand to masturbate.
“They didn’t know if this was self-produced by the owner of this account because it was not a known image (to) NCMEC,” Ray said. “So, they labeled it as a Priority 2, which means (law enforcement has) got to get on this pretty quick.”
Based on information provided to NCMEC, including IP addresses, username and email address associated with the account, investigators were able to trace it back to Santos.
When KSP’s Intelligence Branch advised that Santos did not appear to have access to children, investigators slowed the pace of the investigation to conduct more surveillance and learn Santos’ habits. On Feb. 26, Ray obtained and executed a search warrant.
Santos was apprehended as he pulled into the driveway of his apartment on Opportunity Drive, where he lives with his girlfriend.
Investigators seized multiple electronic devices, including the cell phone in Santos’ vehicle. Ray testified that the email address and Kik username identified in the cyber tip were active on the phone.
Santos faces 10 counts each of possession and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12 years of age, class C and B felonies, respectively.
All 20 counts stem from the cyber tip reported to NCMEC, with the possession charges related to the images themselves and the distribution charges based on exchanges between the account and other Kik users through private messages.
“There was multiple images of other females and juveniles that was recovered,” Ray testified. “I executed a search warrant on this specific Kik account, which returned, I believe it was, 488 images. There’s a lot of images in there of a female that’s close to him, where another complaint has been filed; one of our supervisors is working it.”
Investigators recovered numerous AI-generated images. Ray testified that Santos used artificial intelligence tools to alter photos of what he described as “females,” placing them in lingerie or other revealing clothing.
“So, we’re expecting additional charges,” he added.
Burkeen had no more questions. Before moving on, Hutchens asked the detective if he anticipated federal charges being brought against Santos.
“Possibly, yes,” Ray replied. “I’ve been speaking with the U.S. attorney.”
Murray-based attorney Chris Hendricks, who represents Santos in the case, began his cross-examination with questions about the devices seized and details about how and from where the evidence mentioned in the testimony was obtained.
According to Ray, when officers executed a search warrant, they recovered around six or seven devices, including three cell phones, two Apple MacBooks and a couple of USB drives.
When asked to clarify the source of the 488 images referenced earlier in his testimony, Ray said that he received those directly from Kik in response to a search warrant.
“I got his Kik account back from the company; that had 488 images in it,” Ray explained, adding, “It also has the messages showing where he’s speaking with other Kik users, sharing images back and forth with them and talking about age ranges that he likes in children.”
Hendricks further inquired about what evidence was found specifically on the cell phone recovered from Santos’ vehicle. Ray reiterated that investigators found the reported email address and username on the phone in addition to images.
“We don’t have an exact number yet – as I said, it’s preliminary; he’s still going through it,” Ray said. “He’s saying he has already seen child sexual abuse material ranging from infant age all the way up into the teens.”
Before ruling, Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens asked if the other resident of the home, Santos’ girlfriend, is charged in connection to the case. Upon confirmation that she is not, Hutchens issued a finding of probable cause.
Hutchens also modified Santos’ bond, originally set at $10,000 cash. At last week’s arraignment, Hutchens commented that the bond should probably be higher but did not change it at the time.
“I have a concern,” the judge said Wednesday. “I set bond based on the limited information that’s in the citation. The testimony today gives significantly more information than I was aware of, and the scope of the issue is more significant than I was aware of; so, I’m inclined to modify the bond.”
After asking Burkeen for his input on a more appropriate amount, Hutchens increased Santos’ bond to $25,000 cash.
Burkeen requested an additional bond condition – that Santos be prohibited from contacting or communicating with his girlfriend or any member of her family. Hutchens granted the request.
Before the hearing ended, Hendricks, on Santos’ behalf, waived presentation of the case to the grand jury, allowing it to proceed to circuit court by information, without waiting for a formal indictment.
Santos is scheduled for arraignment in Calloway Circuit Court on Monday, March 30, at 8:30 a.m.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
