3 suspected pedophiles arrested in child molestation case in WA state—fourth perp killed himself

The child molestation case, where three people have been charged, involves Dr. Michael Wilmington, a pediatrician who worked for Kaiser Permanente in Vancouver, Washington.

Wilmington was found dead on May 2, according to police statements. "The ongoing child molestation investigation involving former pediatrician Michael Wilmington, who was found deceased last Saturday, and Chad Hartley, who remains incarcerated in the Clark County Jail," the Vancouver Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

Anna Hartley, the wife of Chad Hartley, has also been booked on charges of first-degree child molestation as well as first-degree trafficking. When Chad Harley was identified as a suspect in the case and arrested on April 29, he was a medical assistant at the PeaceHealth Fisher's Landing clinic in Vancouver. He later told authorities that his home was “clothing optional.”

“When the search warrant was executed, Mrs. Hartley had another child at their house, a child that’s not related. The state has concerns that Anna Hartley has accessed other children," Megan Finch, an attorney for the state, told reporters, per KGW8.

In interviews with authorities, Anna Hartley revealed that there were two “clothing optional” friend that would come to their house; these men were identified as including William Sneiderwine and Wilmington.

After Chad Hartley was arrested, he was soon tied to Wilmington by authorities. When authorities searched Chad Hartley’s phone, they found that multiple nude photos of children had been sent between him and Wilmington.

When he learned he was tied to the investigation, Wilmington committed an apparent suicide. Wilmington would allegedly host naked sleepovers with young victims at his La Center home. Anna Hartley allegedly transported a child victim to the residence where he would host the “sleepovers,” and these took place frequently. Investigators also believed that she had access to other children.

The accused pedophiles met through Sneiderwine. According to KATU2, Anna Hartley told authorities that her husband met Wilmington through Sneiderwine, as he invited them to “nude bowling events” that took place in Battle Ground, Washington. Sneiderwine was charged last week with conspiracy to commit child molestation as well as tampering with evidence. He was taken into custody at his home and then booked at the Clark County Jail.

Anna Harley allegedly knew about the nude child photos on her husband’s phone, and the victim had disclosed that Wilmington “kept touching” her genitals. The documents alleged that Anna Hartley “disregarded" the child and “continued to communicate with Wilmington, and facilitated the child spending time with him after the disclosure."

All three living suspects have been charged with various child sex crimes, and the investigation is ongoing.