Vancouver Police Investigate Child Molestation Involving A Local Physician - 05/04/26

Vancouver, Wash. – In February 2026, Vancouver Police opened an investigation after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child sex abuse material involving a Vancouver IP address.

On April 29, 2026, investigators identified a suspect in this case, Chad Hartley. Detectives from the Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit (DECU) and the Children’s Justice Center (CJC) located Hartley during a pedestrian stop, took him into custody and subsequently served a search warrant at his Vancouver residence. Hartly was booked into the Clark County Jail for Dealing in Child Pornography II (x4), Possession of Child Pornography (x4), and Child Molestation I.

The investigation also revealed that Hartley was associated with Michael R. Wilmington, who is a local pediatrician affiliated with multiple medical facilities in the Portland/Vancouver area. Wilmington allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his La Center, Washington residence.

On April 30, 2026, a search warrant was served at Wilmington’s residence. Numerous items of evidence were seized.

On May 1, 2026, additional information was obtained by detectives regarding Wilmington molesting a child at his home. A felony warrant for Child Molestation I was issued for Wilmington.

On May 2, 2026, Vancouver Police were notified that Wilmington was found deceased in Lewis County from an apparent suicide. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the death investigation.

The investigation by the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who is aware of a child who may have had unsupervised contact with Chad Hartley or Michael Wilmington to contact the local law enforcement agency for their jurisdiction.

Nothing additional is being released at this time.

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