A former physician at one of America’s top pediatric hospitals is facing federal charges after investigators say they uncovered one of the largest personal stashes of child sexual abuse material ever recorded.
Howard M. Saal, 73, a former geneticist and dysmorphologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, was arrested after federal agents allegedly found more than 153,000 images and 470 videos of child pornography — including victims as young as newborns.
Cyber Tip Leads to Horrific Discovery
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the case began when a Hamilton County Sheriff’s detective assigned to the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force received a cyber tip linking child porn image searches to Saal’s home IP address.
The initial tip included a disturbing image of two naked girls, estimated to be around 10 years old, engaged in explicit conduct.
When investigators executed a search warrant, they reportedly found a massive archive of abuse material, with many files showing infants, toddlers, and other prepubescent children being sexually exploited.
Hospital Connection Under Scrutiny
Authorities say there is currently no evidence that the materials involve any patients of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Still, given Saal’s former position working directly with children, the case is fueling public outrage and calls for a deeper probe.
Severe Federal Penalties
Saal faces multiple federal counts, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. If convicted on all charges, the 73-year-old would likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Law Enforcement Response
“I am incredibly proud of the work of our Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations unit and their diligence in investigating this individual,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. “We encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Dr. Saal to contact our detectives.”
“The FBI and our partners will continue to fiercely investigate those who attempt to sexually exploit children,” said FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Law enforcement is always more effective when we work together to address crime issues impacting our community.”
