HPD questions suspects in death of 1-year-old
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Ryan and Stephen Forsha-
HILLSBORO — Whitney Johnson and Nathan Ritze were questioned by the Hillsboro Police Department Monday afternoon about the suspicious death of a 1-year-old child last week.
Johnson, the mother of the 1-year-old, was questioned first by the HPD Monday afternoon. Later in the evening, Ritze, Johnson's boyfriend, was brought to the HPD, as they transferred the suspects from, and back to, the Highland County Justice Center.
"The mother said the child died of pneumonia," Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson said. "She did state they (herself and Ritze) had buried the child."
Both Ritze, 25, and Johnson, 26, are being charged with abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree. Both will be arraigned starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
"When it comes to crimes against a child, in my estimation … it's a hideous situation," Thompson said. "It affects everyone in the department. We haven't gotten any new information (from Ritze) than what he told the Richmond (Ky.) Police Department."
On May 30 at 11:53 p.m., the Hillsboro Police Department received a report of a suspicious death of a 1-year-old child. The remains of a small child were found in a wooded area off of Diven Road.
[[In-content Ad]]
According to WCPO, police also reported that Johnson and Ritze told the property owners where the 1-year-old was found that they were going to bury a “small dog.”
Through interviews, a Diven Road location was obtained to look for the body of the 1-year-old-child. Dr. Jeff Beery told The Highland County Press that his office released the 1-year-old's body to the forensic pathologists at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.
When the Richmond Police Department went to the couple's residence, the two children were located. It is believed Ritze fled the home. The mother was located at her workplace. Johnson was taken to the Richmond Police Department for an interview. Ritze was later apprehended.
Thompson said that the HPD received a call in December 2012 regarding alleged abuse. The department turned the case over to Highland County Children's Services.
"Any time we get a call involving alleged abuse, our officer contacts children's services, so they can get involved to see if there is any type of abuse," Thompson said.
There was also concern for the welfare of two other children in the home, who have since been placed in custody of Kentucky Children Services.
The minivan owned by the couple will be processed by the BCI and the HPD on Tuesday.
Chief Thompson said that Johnson and Ritze "had lived at [a Hillsboro apartment complex] for just a short period of time, then left."
"I've been doing this over 35 years, about 26 years as chief," Thompson said. "This is one of the toughest cases that I've seen."
Johnson, the mother of the 1-year-old, was questioned first by the HPD Monday afternoon. Later in the evening, Ritze, Johnson's boyfriend, was brought to the HPD, as they transferred the suspects from, and back to, the Highland County Justice Center.
"The mother said the child died of pneumonia," Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson said. "She did state they (herself and Ritze) had buried the child."
Both Ritze, 25, and Johnson, 26, are being charged with abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree. Both will be arraigned starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
"When it comes to crimes against a child, in my estimation … it's a hideous situation," Thompson said. "It affects everyone in the department. We haven't gotten any new information (from Ritze) than what he told the Richmond (Ky.) Police Department."
On May 30 at 11:53 p.m., the Hillsboro Police Department received a report of a suspicious death of a 1-year-old child. The remains of a small child were found in a wooded area off of Diven Road.
[[In-content Ad]]
According to WCPO, police also reported that Johnson and Ritze told the property owners where the 1-year-old was found that they were going to bury a “small dog.”
Through interviews, a Diven Road location was obtained to look for the body of the 1-year-old-child. Dr. Jeff Beery told The Highland County Press that his office released the 1-year-old's body to the forensic pathologists at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.
When the Richmond Police Department went to the couple's residence, the two children were located. It is believed Ritze fled the home. The mother was located at her workplace. Johnson was taken to the Richmond Police Department for an interview. Ritze was later apprehended.
Thompson said that the HPD received a call in December 2012 regarding alleged abuse. The department turned the case over to Highland County Children's Services.
"Any time we get a call involving alleged abuse, our officer contacts children's services, so they can get involved to see if there is any type of abuse," Thompson said.
There was also concern for the welfare of two other children in the home, who have since been placed in custody of Kentucky Children Services.
The minivan owned by the couple will be processed by the BCI and the HPD on Tuesday.
Chief Thompson said that Johnson and Ritze "had lived at [a Hillsboro apartment complex] for just a short period of time, then left."
"I've been doing this over 35 years, about 26 years as chief," Thompson said. "This is one of the toughest cases that I've seen."