FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, who identified Alfin and Schwartzenberger, said the two agents “exemplified heroism today in defense of their country.”
“The FBI will always honor their ultimate sacrifice and will be forever grateful for their bravery,” Wray said.
Each had a track record for pursuing investigations into child pornography and for arresting its perpetrators. Sometimes their work made headlines. But often, it played out in the shadowy corners of the dark Web or in legal briefings and courtrooms. They gave presentations to schoolchildren and carried out sweeping inquiries into the abuse of minors. It is high-stakes work, and they were fiercely devoted to it.
“It’s the same with any criminal violation: As they get smarter, we adapt, we find them,” Alfin said of investigating child pornography and abuse, in a 2017 article on the FBI’s website. “It’s a…
