09/09/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE DECOY PROJECT CONFIRMS 20TH ARREST STEMMING FROM ITS REPORTS; MASSACHUSETTS CASE HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE
LENOX, MASSACHUSETTS — September 9, 2026 — The Decoy Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from online exploitation, confirms the arrest of Keith Harrison of Lenox, Massachusetts, following a case developed and reported by the organization.
Harrison's arrest marks the 20th arrest stemming from cases reported by The Decoy Project to law enforcement.
While the milestone represents the continued impact of the organization's work, The Decoy Project emphasizes that the number of arrests is not the mission. The mission is protecting children, identifying potentially dangerous online behavior, preserving evidence, and ensuring that information reaches professional law enforcement investigators.
THE INVESTIGATION
The case began on July 24, 2026, when an individual contacted one of The Decoy Project's adult-operated decoys on an online chat platform. The decoy clearly represented herself as a 13-year-old girl.
The conversation subsequently moved to an alternate communications platform, where the individual allegedly continued communicating with the decoy and provided photographs and other identifying information.
Through research, examination of the communications, and information provided during the interaction, The Decoy Project developed information indicating that the individual communicating with the decoy was Keith Harrison of Lenox, Massachusetts.
The organization's research also indicated that Harrison was employed as a teacher.
That information became a significant cause for concern for The Decoy Project because teachers occupy positions of trust and regularly work around children. The organization believed it was especially important that the available evidence be carefully preserved and promptly placed into the hands of the appropriate authorities.
REPORTED TO AUTHORITIES
On August 23, 2026, The Decoy Project reported the case to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) program.
On August 24, 2026, the organization also reported the matter to local law enforcement.
On September 3, 2026, The Decoy Project was contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Massachusetts. Federal investigators requested the evidence and case materials collected by the organization.
The Decoy Project provided the requested evidence and was advised at that time that investigators were working to obtain a warrant in connection with the case.
HARRISON ARRESTED — 20TH ARREST STEMMING FROM DECOY PROJECT REPORTS
The Decoy Project can now confirm that Keith Harrison has been arrested.
His arrest marks the 20th arrest stemming from cases reported by The Decoy Project since the organization began its mission of identifying and reporting suspected online child exploitation.
The Decoy Project will defer to law enforcement and prosecutors regarding the circumstances of the arrest, formal criminal charges, and any additional evidence developed during the official investigation.
STATEMENT FROM THE DECOY PROJECT
"Twenty arrests is an important milestone for our organization, but this mission has never been about a number. It is about protecting children.
Every case we report represents an individual who our team believed warranted the attention of professional law enforcement investigators. When our research in this case indicated that the individual communicating with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl was also employed as a teacher, our concern was heightened because of the position of trust and access to children associated with that profession.
Our responsibility was clear: document the communications, preserve the evidence, report what we found, and cooperate fully with law enforcement.
We are grateful to the FBI and the other law enforcement professionals involved in this investigation for taking the information seriously and acting on the evidence provided.
Our 20th arrest is a milestone, but our greatest measure of success will always be the same — doing everything we responsibly can to help protect children from online exploitation."
PROTECTING CHILDREN REMAINS THE MISSION
The Decoy Project emphasizes that its operations are not conducted for public confrontation or entertainment. Adult volunteers portray minors online, document concerning interactions, preserve digital evidence, and report suspected criminal activity to the appropriate authorities.
Law enforcement independently determines whether an investigation, search warrant, arrest, or criminal prosecution is appropriate.
The organization's goal is to help identify potential threats before an actual child becomes a victim and to provide law enforcement with well-documented information that may assist their investigations.
ABOUT THE DECOY PROJECT
The Decoy Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from online exploitation through ethical adult-operated decoy operations, digital evidence preservation, research, public education, and cooperation with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
All Decoy Project decoys are adults portraying minors online.
The Decoy Project's mission can be summarized in three principles:
Protect Children.
Preserve Evidence.
Support Law Enforcement.
MEDIA CONTACT
The Decoy Project, Inc.
Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
Website: thedecoyproject.org
LEGAL NOTICE: An arrest is not a finding of guilt. Allegations referenced in this release remain allegations unless proven through the judicial process. Keith Harrison is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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