Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
A Florida woman facing felony charges for posing as a 14-year-old to molest a middle schooler was arrested again after more victims came forward. According to WFLA, 23-year-old Alyssa Ann Zinger was taken into custody on Thursday (April 4) after four children told Tampa police they were sexually involved with the suspect.
Zinger was originally arrested in November 2023 after investigators got a tip about her inappropriate relationship with a boy between the ages of 12 and 15. Officers claim she posed as a 14-year-old homeschooled student on Snapchat to prey upon the victim. At the time, police suspected Zinger had more victims and urged them to come forward.
Detectives allege Zinger told the victims she was 14 and a homeschooled student, just like the first victim. During a pretrial detention hearing, officials showed evidence she communicated with the victims through social media apps like Snapchat and TikTok. The victims' ages range between 12 and 15, according to police.
Authorities also accused Zinger's parents of giving detectives a phone that didn't belong to Zinger during a search warrant. When investigators returned to the family's house, the suspect reportedly told police her phone was lost.
The 23-year-old is now facing two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, two counts of lewd or lascivious battery, possession of child pornography, in-state transmission of child pornography by electronic device, and sexual cyber harassment. On Monday (April 8), Judge Laura Ward ordered the 23-year-old woman to stay in jail until her trial.
“What we know is you have been involved with these boys, you have been the adult, you have been preying on them, you have been taking advantage of them, you have been abusing them,” the judge told Zinger, per WFLA.