A police report released Tuesday in the investigation into the death of a 6-year-old boy from Middletown, Ohio reveals disturbing new details in the case.
6-year-old James Hutchinson is believed to be dead and his mother and her boyfriend are now facing charges after admitting he was killed and his body was dumped into the Ohio River.
Hutchinson was reported missing Sunday morning by his mother, 29-year-old Brittany Gosney.
Middletown investigators said Gosney, and her boyfriend, 42-year-old James Hamilton, showed up at the police lobby and reported the child missing. Police said that was the first red flag because parents of missing children usually call 911.
Hours later, investigators said Gosney and Hamilton told police the 6-year-old was killed in Preble County a few days ago.
According to a police report from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office, Brittany admitted she killed James. “Brittany stated Hamilton wanted her to get rid of the kids,” according to the report.
The report states that Gosney drove her kids, ages 9, 7 and 6, to Rush Run park around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
“Brittany stated she had planned to get the kids out of the vehicle and to leave them behind as Hamilton had been pressuring her to get rid of the kids. When doing this, the 6-year-old, Hutchinson, grabbed onto the door handle. Brittany slammed the gas trying to leave the kids and drug Hutchinson possibly running him over,” according to the police report.
The report goes on to say that Gosney went back to check on her son and he was dead. She told police she loaded the other two children in the car with James’ body and returned to their home on Crawford Street in Hamilton.
Investigators said Gosney and Hamilton dumped James’ body in the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg around 3:00 a.m. Sunday.
Trained search and rescue teams searched the river banks Monday in an attempt to recover James’ body. They plan on continuing the search Sunday.
Gosney is charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Hamilton faces charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
During Gosney’s arraignment Monday, she told the judge she didn’t fully understand her rights.
“I have a learning disability, so I do not understand what you are saying,” Gosney said.
“She seems to be communicating fine. She understands right from wrong. She understands her constitutional rights,” Birk said.
Her bond was set at $1 million. Hamilton’s was set at $100,000.
Gosney’s two children who lived at the home, both second graders, have since been placed in foster care, authorities said.
Investigators said Gosney has a fourth child who had previously been adopted by another family.
The Middletown Police Department is working with the Preble County Sheriff’s Office, the Preble County Prosecutor and the Butler County Prosecutor.
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