Minnesota man vanishes before extradition hearing in decades-old nj sex assault case

Minnesota man vanishes before extradition hearing in decades-old NJ sex assault case

Posted by
1 min read
August 14, 2025

Dalton, MN – A 59-year-old man wanted on charges tied to the alleged sexual assault of a New Jersey child more than three decades ago failed to appear in a Minnesota courtroom last week, sparking a multistate search.

Jed D. Phykitt, of Dalton, Minnesota, who was indicted last month by a Bergen County Grand Jury on five counts of second-degree sexual assault, did not show up for an August 4 extradition hearing after being previously released from custody. He now faces additional charges for failure to appear and is considered a fugitive by both New Jersey and Minnesota authorities.

The case against Phykitt stems from a February arrest following a nearly year-long investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. The probe began after the Westwood Police Department reported allegations of child sexual abuse dating back to 1990 and 1991, when Phykitt lived in Washington Township, New Jersey.

Investigators say Phykitt assaulted a minor, who was between 13 and 16 years old at the time, on multiple occasions across Hillsdale, Washington Township, and Westwood, NJ. He was formally charged on February 5 and taken into custody the following day with help from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department.

Phykitt was initially jailed in Fergus Falls, MN, but later released to await his court date. His failure to appear at the scheduled hearing has prompted renewed efforts by law enforcement to locate him. Officials say his last known location was in Minnesota, but his current whereabouts remain unknown.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office is now asking the public to assist in locating Phykitt. Tips can be submitted anonymously via the Prosecutor’s Office Tip Line at 201-226-5532.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version