An online tip about suspected child sexual abuse material has spiraled into a sprawling investigation that now includes the arrest of a Vancouver man and disturbing allegations involving a well-known pediatrician who was later found dead in Lewis County, according to authorities.
Arrest And Charges
Investigators say they identified Chad Hartley on April 29 and arrested him during a pedestrian stop, then served a search warrant at his Vancouver home. Hartley was booked into the Clark County Jail on multiple charges, including four counts of dealing in depictions of a minor, four counts of possession of child pornography and one count of child molestation in the first degree, as reported by KATU.
Allegations Involving Local Pediatrician
According to police, Hartley was linked to Michael R. Wilmington, a pediatrician associated with several medical facilities in the Portland-Vancouver area. KATU reported that Wilmington allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his home in La Center.
Detectives say they executed a search warrant at Wilmington’s residence on April 30 and seized numerous items of evidence. On May 1, investigators obtained information that led to a felony warrant for first-degree child molestation. The following day, May 2, Vancouver Police were notified that Wilmington had been found dead in Lewis County from an apparent suicide. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is handling the death investigation, according to KATU.
How The Tip Reached Police
Vancouver Police say the case traces back to February, when a CyberTipline report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged suspected child sexual abuse material tied to a Vancouver IP address. The CyberTipline reviews and triages reports submitted by electronic service providers and the public, then routes them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Local Support And Next Steps
The Arthur D. Curtis Children's Justice Center is part of the multidisciplinary team responding to suspected child victims in Clark County. The center provides forensic interviews, advocacy and links to mental health services while working alongside police and prosecutors to reduce additional trauma for children during criminal investigations, according to Clark County Children's Justice Center.
Vancouver Police and Clark County detectives say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about unsupervised contact between children and either Hartley or Wilmington is urged to contact their local law enforcement agency. Those seeking immediate help can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or reach the suicide and crisis lifeline by dialing 988.
