A trusted, respected, ultra-marathon runner who’s symbolized Americana is now an inmate in the Sarasota County jail. Police say they busted John Pyle, 59, with dozens of images of child pornography on his computer and cell phone.
Pyle’s arrest is sending chills through parents and members of the tight-knit running community. Investigators tell 10News WTSP that they found pornographic pictures of girls as young as a one-year-old, and say they could uncover even more.
Pyle’s was known in the community for his patriotic and philanthropic races. In 2012, he ran 83 straight days for his “Patriot Run Across America” to raise money for veterans.
“He's run from San Francisco to Key West and was carrying the American flag. Doing all the stuff with Wounded Warriors and my parents are Marines. It’s something I really respected,” says runner Adam Bradtmueller.
Many say all of the good he’s done has now been tarnished by his arrest. So far, investigators say they've found 48 child porn images on his phone and computer.
“It's just really sad, knowing someone who is looked up to still fell into something like that,” says Bradtmueller.
“It's just really upsetting,” says one of Pyle’s neighbors. The mother who lives in the same S. Osprey Avenue condo complex as Pyle fought back tears as she read about the bondage and porn investigators uncovered: a 1-year-old girl naked and bound by ropes, a 7-year-old forced into sex with a man.
A search warrant was executed at Pyle's apartment after Sarasota Police Detectives received three separate cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The 59-year-old has allegedly been looking at that while living in a complex full of kids. “If he's got them on his phone, and he's got them on his computer that's a bad thing, because then he's got a thought in his head. If he's looking at those images, what else could he be doing?” Pyle’s neighbor wonders.
“I see him everywhere at local races, being around people. You're going to be around kids all the time,” says Bradtmueller.
Investigators raided Pyle's condo Friday morning after three separate cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He refused to talk to detectives, demanding an attorney.
Neighbors have plenty to say. “It's like scary. I hope he gets some help,” says neighbor Valarie Barran.
“I hope he is gone, and gets convicted of this, and goes away for a long time,” says another neighbor.
Pyle is scheduled to go before a judge at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday where bond will be set. Investigators say they've just scratched the surface with searching his phone and computer, and he could face even more charges.
Investigators say because they discovered more than 10 images, the charges are stepped up to a second degree felony.
Before this arrest, records show Pyle's had been arrested for DUI, marijuana and worthless checks, decades ago.
