Pediatrician accused of child abuse in Washington takes his own life before his arrest
His death occurred days after an arrest warrant was issued against him, in the middle of a child abuse investigation
Doctor Michael R. Wilmington, age 61, was found dead on May 2 in Lewis County, WA hington, shortly after authorities issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged child sexual abuse.
The death has been listed as an apparent suicide, which adds complexity to an ongoing investigation involving multiple agencies and possible victims in the Portland-Vancouver region, according to authorities cited by KGW media.
Origin of the case: a digital alert
The investigation began in February 2026, when the Vancouver Police Department received an alert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children linking child abuse material to an IP address in Vancouver.
The investigations led to the arrest of Chad Hartley, 36 years old, on 29 April. During a raid in his home, the agents seized aron evidence that led to multiple charges, including possession and distribution of child sexual material, as well as abuse and alleged trafficking.
As the case progressed, investigators established a link between Hartley and Wilmington, who was practicing as a pediatrician in several medical institutions in the area.
Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at the doctor's home in La Center, where the authorities reported having found evidence that points to the conducting inappropriate encounters with minors.
Following new findings, on May 1 an arrest warrant was issued for a serious crime related to child abuse. However, Wilmington was found dead the next day, before he could be arrested.
Institutional reactions and research continuity
The Kaiser Permanente health organization, with which Wilmington was connected, reported that it was notified of the allegations on 30 April and that proceeded to immediately cancel their employment relationship, in addition to withdrawing their access to facilities and systems.
The authorities have noted that the investigation remains active and they are seeking to identify possible additional victims. Both local police and sheriff's offices have requested the community's collaboration to advance in the case.