I found some stuff on my husband's phone and here's >> where's he at? >> He left. I've seen this and I never thought it would happen to me and I'm just We got two kids. One of them left. He kept saying something like that and then he told me that he was looking up for another pregnant woman. >> The case starts inside a home in Cedar Springs, Michigan. Deputies respond to a call from a woman who is clearly shaken. She tells them she found something on her husband's phone that she cannot ignore. Through tears, she explains that the images she saw involved children. I >> found some stuff on my husband's phone and it appears to be >> Where's he at? >> He left cuz he knew. >> He knew? >> Yeah, [snorts] I took He was acting really weird this morning about his phone. Yeah, I >> heard my dad. Yeah, that's my mom and two kids. He was acting really >> weird stuff. >> So I4 [snorts] >> and even though it's a 12-year-old yellow >> title or whatever >> like it I don't know. >> Okay. I can't search it. That's his phone. >> Yeah. >> I can't search it. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> I am not asking you to search it. >> I will search it. I'm not asking I'm not asking you to and I'm not making you an agent of the stand. Okay. >> I understand. If I go through it, that's not going to mess up any investigation. >> As far as I I'm not going to ask you to >> Okay. But can I willfully >> It's up to you. >> I'm sorry. This is not what >> Has he ever been in trouble for this type of thing? >> Not to my knowledge. >> I took his computer, too. >> Okay, I'll take both of those. Where's he at? >> I don't know. I don't know. Did he make any suicidal statements or >> No, the last thing I said to him was, "You're going to prison when you left." Sorry, I have Can I show it to you? >> Could you like >> That's as far as I got. >> What is that? >> Is that a website? >> Yeah. >> Is that Is it just a picture or >> Yeah, it's like AI, I think. She tells officers this all started because she thought he was cheating. The behavior felt familiar. He disappeared during the day, hid his phone, and acted strange when she asked questions. She asked for the passcode. He refused. >> I have a computer. >> Is that the only electronics you have access to that you're aware of? >> Well, we have a PlayStation 5 and then my daughter has a couple games, but >> I'm over here. >> Is that the only video that you saw or was there any videos or was it just that? I haven't looked through it. Just follow you guys. >> Do you have that open still? So I can just kind of run me through how this all played out today. So, I was putting our an we're supposed to have a cookout and he just disappeared and after I got settled down, I was trying to find him and I walked out to our garage side door and he like threw his phone in his pocket and standing in here and looked all razled and I was like, "What? What's that?" and he was like, "Oh, I was just talking to Eddie, which is his friend, and he was acting really weird." So, he like grabbed the leaf blower and started leaf blowing the grass out of the garage. And I took it out of his pocket and walked away with it. And he followed me cuz I thought she and he followed me and he was like, "Give me my phone or whatever." And I was like, "Give me your passcode." And he's like, "No, no." And this went on for like an hour. We were just going back and forth. >> Was he here for any of this? >> No. He showed up at the last second. I was just telling him like, "Get out. Like you're obviously cheating and this is super weird." And he >> eventually was like, "If I give it to you like passcode, can we have a conversation?" And I was like, >> "No." Like, or I said, "Yeah, you need a passcode." And he did. And then I was like, "Okay, now you can go. I didn't even look at it yet." And and then they showed up. So, I got the kids ready because I wanted them to leave because I thought he was cheating. So, I thought we were gonna have a conversation about that. So, they get the two kids and walk out. >> And then I pull it up. >> So, then I came back out and told my dad to come back in with me so I could grab my stuff and go cuz I was just going to go to the police station with it. >> But I just to call you guys because I'm so disgusted. >> And then what happened with him? Um, I told my mom to take the window cuz I not to be here cuz I'm now freaking out. And my dad stayed back when her over here. He came out this truck and >> when she walked back into the bedroom and saw her husband in the bathroom, she looked at him and he just stood there. She tells deputies she's an emergency nurse and has seen horrible things in her career. But never did she think something like this would happen in her own home with the father of her children. Did he say anything to you about when you saw >> So when I w I went back in the room. I was still in pajamas cuz it started early and to get dressed and I looked around the corner in our bedroom to our master bathroom and I said, "You're going to prison." And I just walked out. >> Do you see anything in response? >> No. >> What was his body language? >> I don't This is my job, too. I'm an emergency nurse. I worked at DVAS for three years in the ED. I have seen this [ __ ] and I never thought it would happen to me and I'm just we got two kids. One of them 12 like I just like texting give me a passc. And he was like all right then I'll leave. But I'm like, "What is on your phone? That's so bad that like, you know, I would kick you out over like you're" And he made comments about me in therapy. And >> then what? >> What do you mean you in therapy? >> No, him. He was like, "I need therapy." Like he kept saying something like that. And then he told me that he was looking at another pregnant woman and I was like, "That's not bad enough to make me leave." Like whatever. What is your problem? And then he said, this went on for like an hour back and forth where I kept saying, "Just get out." And he kept saying, "Give me my phone." And I was like, "I'm not. There's something on this phone that's so bad that you're willing to leave over it." So it's not And that's And >> what's driving >> an F-150? >> Are you going to go with them? >> Yeah, I think at least tell you guys find them or do whatever. I don't know what I've got. >> Okay. I just need to know you're going to have a safe place. Yeah, I have problems. >> Where does he work at? >> Cedar Springs Public Schools. He's a maintenance man there. >> Then comes a critical detail. The woman tells officers her husband works at Cedar Springs Public Schools as a maintenance worker. That revelation changes everything. The school is immediately notified and Mark Leel, aged 35, is suspended while the case moves forward. 2 days later, detectives sit down with him. He admits to having a pornography addiction, but when they ask about what his wife saw, the illegal content, he claims the images were AI generated and that no real children were involved. He describes the images as graphic and says they involved both kids and adults, possibly as young as 10. >> You just got to let us know what she's going to find so she doesn't get blasted off. >> And I know if I need to open these downloads in a private setting or >> Right. Yeah. I don't I mean I don't I don't think I ever downloaded anything. >> I'm sorry. I meant the phone download. So that would be your search history, everything that you type into that phone. Yeah, that I mean the images that you'll find on I mean I don't know if it works that way or not, but if it so the AI generates images and then I don't know if it works that way or not if you'll see those but >> yeah she'll see exactly what was on the screen of that phone will be in the download, >> right? So like, >> so yeah, you'll see. I mean, for it's AI, so it's not perfect. So it does a lot of weird stuff sometimes, but yeah, it'll be, you know, just a lot of graphic images of basically that >> of what specifically? >> Um, I don't know, like kids and and adults. >> How old kids? uh varies probably from 10 to even I mean into adulthood really >> because I was just doing things like I mean I was looking up like um celebrities too and what >> Sure. So you're just [music] kind of out new searches messing with it. >> Yeah, I was literally just Yeah, it was a lot of different things that I was making it do basically. >> Okay. And how often do you think you created these images? >> Uh, for about a week straight. Pretty much every day. Every night it seemed like like it was just I don't know. It was something new and exciting. >> They assure her the charge already filed is the most serious available. Aggravated possession of child's abusive material. Even if they had found more images, the charge wouldn't change. >> Did you guys want to go through that grab where all this stuff is? Cuz if you >> We just did. Yes, ma'am. So, didn't find anything. Um, I know that might not feel a whole lot different than if we did, but um, we went through that. I tossed that truck. I mean, you know, that's not many hiding spaces there. It's pretty clean. So, I don't at all want to dismiss your concern, >> but I think at this point, we've done everything that we can. >> I appreciate you guys coming. I didn't real the way it was described to me the picture found on that phone was like over like >> it's hard to say >> but knowing that Detective Van Ree is an expert and he deals with this sort of stuff sort of like Sar Cardinas all the time >> so that's all they work so I'm confident in his assessment that he could not confidently say that that picture was a camera intended to surveil somebody without their knowledge. And I have seen those plenty of them. >> So I don't >> What's with the hidden camera? >> It honestly could be used for a lot of things. We at my house I've used trail or not trail cameras, but on like fishing line type of camera to find a wire to move a thermostat. >> Mine might have been a maintenance man, but my dad did all that kind of stuff. Listen, like I said, I don't I don't want to dismiss your concern at all, but we at this point have left no stone unturned. >> Have you searched his house? His dad's house, like whatever he took, cuz he took out of here >> a blue bag. Holy crap. I don't know. >> Unfortunately, we can't we don't have enough for that. But we did anything that was on his phones, his iCloud, his computer, his all of it. We've searched it and I have not found a shred of evidence that indicates anybody from your family was involved. That that part is illegal. You cannot create AI images of juveniles involved in sexual activity or child rap or any of it. But we didn't find that. And like I said, I'm not saying you didn't see that, but I'm saying we didn't find it. So, >> it was the first thing on his fault. >> Yeah. Even if he was searching under an incognito browser, we don't have the image. Now that if if we would have found five more images or two more videos that wouldn't have changed the charge. I mean he was charged with aggravated possession of child sexual activ or child sexually abusive material. So that the difference between those two things would not have changed his charge at all. We got him with the most that we could have. >> I understand that. >> Meanwhile, investigators bring Mark in for a second interview. This time the tone is different. They lay out exactly what was found. images tied to actual cases of child abuse. They ask specifically about the verified child sexual abuse material. Mark says he doesn't know where it came from. He denies downloading anything directly. >> And I wanted to give you an opportunity to explain what was on that laptop. >> They ask specifically about the verified child sexual abuse material. >> Mark says he doesn't know where it came from. >> He denies. And what I told you before is I feared that and I have I still have concern that >> what was on the laptop. >> Mhm. >> Either you're not accepting that that's yours or you're trying to pawn it off on somebody else >> and it's not getting to the root of your issues. >> Right. I'm not trying to pawn it off on like I said I don't think anybody else would have access to it because I don't know. But um [music] I mean I I downloaded a thing called [music] the probably a long time ago which had like a lot it was like a it was like a leak um of of people's uh pictures or something. >> So I downloaded that. So there was probably I think probably a bunch of pictures of random stuff. Um I don't know what would be on there. I never even got a chance to go through all of them. There was so many. I didn't realize it. Other than that, I don't I have no idea what it could be. >> So, let's talk specifically about the child sexually abusive material that's on that laptop. I want to know where you got it. >> Yeah. I don't really I don't know what to tell you there. Um, I don't know why there would be anything actually associated on that laptop as far as that because I'd never downloaded anything like that or any like the only thing I've ever done was go to a website long time ago on it. Um, and it was like a forum website that just brings you to another website, but I've never downloaded anything or anything like that cuz, you know, clearly I knew what I was doing was not right by any means. But I don't I never I've never had anything other than that. Um, yeah, I've never, you know, I've never watched a video or anything. These are all just pictures that are online. >> Okay. So the pictures that were online, do you remember what the website was called? >> Uh, so the forum just takes you to random like number websites. So I don't I don't know. The forum was like um like something land or something like that. >> Um and then you click on something and it brings you to another website and then it's just an IP address basically. So, I don't recall exactly. Um, yeah. I can't believe there was actually anything on there. Um, I really didn't know that. >> So, you have nothing else to give for that. >> I really don't. Um, I I've literally never downloaded anything that I know of. I don't know. >> One second. I'll be right back. >> In digital cases, evidence can show up anywhere. That strategy pays off. When investigators examine Mark Leel's laptop, they find over 100 illegal images, clear, verified, and disturbing. Some of them are confirmed through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These aren't AI generated. These are real children, real victims. And now there's no more room for excuses. Mark's earlier claim about using AI collapses. He's caught. By late October, court records show he's no longer working at Cedar Springs Public Schools. The district puts out a public statement confirming he didn't have contact with students and no children from the school are believed to be involved. >> So, like I said, >> I went through our internet crimes against children, downloaded all of your devices and in your possession in the laptop was child abusive material, child abusive material. We call child, >> right? So, I need to know who the pictures are of because that was the >> I don't think it's anybody that I would know. >> Okay. >> I don't know. I mean, I really don't know how it got on my laptop because I never downloaded anything. Maybe by accident, I guess. But >> by accident. Okay. So, >> I mean, I'm not saying I did. I just don't cuz I don't know how it could have gotten there. It doesn't make any sense to me. It doesn't make any sense, especially because you had over a hundred images. 22 of those files were recognized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Database as having >> hash values that are child, >> but there is other there are those other images that >> right >> are unknown. So, I need to know where you got them. Like I said, the only thing I ever I know that I downloaded was the thing called the the I think it was called and they might have been mixed in with that. I don't know. >> Okay. But what about going to the website? >> No. >> Never >> cuz that is traditional child trade craft >> of one website to another to another to another. >> Right. >> I've never done anything. >> I really have I don't know how that like I didn't even know it was on there. Okay. Have you viewed it? Have you viewed child abusive [music] material? >> That's what I'm saying is I don't know how it would went on there. I know I use this AI stuff. Anything else I did was >> It's not It's not AI and it's not >> Well, the laptop, like I said, >> there is child erotica, which is different. But the material is yours. >> Yeah, >> it's on your laptop. >> I don't I really I have no idea. I really don't. I mean, for one, it was over 10 years ago. I I wouldn't even remember if I wanted to. But >> but when you fled your house, when you knew the police were coming, what did you grab? >> Well, I grabbed my laptop, but I wanted some form of communication with >> keyboard doesn't even work, >> right? Well, you're right. It doesn't. But >> So, >> you can use an external keyboard for a laptop, but >> what this investigation Do you have one? >> Yeah, of course. You can you can get one for $5. >> What this investigation is going to outline is that >> your wife >> found CSAM on your phone and then we get involved, >> right? >> And we have a conversation and you say, "No, no, no. All I've made is AI images. I give you the opportunity." And we have a long conversation with the three of us >> and I download the phone and Okay. There's not a lot there. Those AI images, [music] I don't feel confident that they were intended to depict a pubescent or preubescent child, >> right? >> They're kind of they're in that gray area. >> And I say, >> right, but you know as well as I do that producing AI [music] child is illegal, >> right? Well, I didn't know that then cuz I mean I just didn't know. I also figured it was a gray area cuz it's not real. Um, I didn't know. I mean, clearly morally I knew it was wrong, but uh and and when I started it, it was innocent and then the AI itself decided to show me that and that's kind of where it spiraled from. Um, didn't even ask for it. Um, it's it's a technology that should not exist. So that's where you want to end this is that you have no culpability of >> I really don't know how I don't I I promise I can't I can't tell you how that got on my laptop. I really don't want at this point you are under arrest for aggravated possession of child use of material and using a computer to commit a crime >> with 10 years or greater. Both of those being 10ear felonies. So go ahead and kick your shoes off and empty your pockets. Everything out of this table, please. >> Unfortunately, at the end he's arrested. On October 29th, 2024, Mark Leel is charged with aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime, both felony charges carrying up to 10 years in prison. His bond is set at $50,000. The case moves through court over the next few months. In February 2025, he pleads no contest to the possession charge. In exchange, the second charge is dropped. Sentencing is set for April 25th. He now faces the possibility of a decade behind bars, a $50,000 fine, and lifetime registration as a sex offender. What would you have done in her place? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for watching. Stay aware and stay safe.