The Riverside Police Department recently announced the arrest of two individuals linked to the sexual abuse of a child, following a detailed investigation that began on January 2, 2025. The primary suspect, 55-year-old William Thomas Trader, was arrested on the day the investigation started, with charges including aggravated sexual assault of a minor and lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under the age of 10, according to KTLA. Trader, a registered sex offender with a past conviction for sexual abuse of a minor, is currently held in a Riverside County jail.
During their investigation, detectives identified a second suspect, Merriam Dogillo, age 46. An arrest warrant was issued after discovering that she had moved out of California. The Riverside Police Department's METRO Team, working as part of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, was instrumental in locating Dogillo, arrested on March 6 by U.S. Marshals in New York. She is awaiting extradition back to California, facing multiple charges of sexual abuse against a minor as reported by the Riverside police department’s official website.
"Through the meticulous work done by our investigators and METRO team, we were able to identify and arrest two individuals for horrific crimes against children," Captain Chad Milby, who oversees the Investigations Division, said. He underscored the partnership and coordination with various units within the police department, victim advocacy organizations, and child protection services in making these arrests possible, as detailed by both KTLA and the Riverside Police Department.
The Riverside Police Department has extended a call to the public for any additional information related to the investigation. Detective Vanessa Castillo can be contacted at 951-353-7609 or via email at [email protected]. For those wishing to remain anonymous, information can also be submitted through the Riverside Police Department's "Atlas 1" mobile app, which features a secure "Send a Message" option.
