A pediatrician who allegedly “hosted naked sleepovers with young children” died by suicide in Lewis County, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
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, according to a news release from Vancouver police.
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, according to the release. Hartley was booked into the Clark County Jail for second-degree dealing in child pornography (four counts), possession of child pornography (four counts) and first-degree 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,” Vancouver police stated in the release. “Wilmington allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his La Center, Washington, residence.”
On April 30, a search warrant was served at Wilmington’s residence. Numerous items of evidence were seized, according to police.
On May 1,additional information was obtained by detectives regarding Wilmington molesting a child at his home, according to police.
A felony warrant for child molestation was issued for Wilmington.
On May 2, Vancouver police were notified that Wilmington was found dead in Lewis County from an apparent suicide. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the death investigation, according to Vancouver police.
“The investigation by the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office is continuing,” Vancouver police stated in the release. “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. No additional information is being released at this time.”
