MIDDLETOWN — A 6-year-old boy reported missing to Middletown police Sunday has been found dead and his mother and her boyfriend are facing charges stemming from the boy’s death, according to investigators.
James Robert Hutchinson was first reported as missing by his mother, Brittany Gosney, 29, Sunday morning however through the police investigation officers found that he had been killed days earlier, Middletown Police Chief David Birk said in a media release.
“Upon further questioning of Brittany Gosney and her boyfriend James Hamilton, they now say that James was killed in Preble County a few days ago,” Birk said in the release Sunday night.
“The child’s body was brought back to Middletown, whey they live, and later put into the Ohio River,” Birk said.
Police did not disclose the location where Hutchinson’s body was located and where the recovery efforts were taking place Sunday. Birk said high water, brought on by heavy rains over the weekend and snow melt had created very hazardous conditions for investigators.
“The river is very high and treacherous, so we will not be disclosing the exact location in hopes of avoiding another tragic incident,” Birk said.
The location in Preble County where Hutchinson was allegedly killed was also not released by police.
Gosney is facing preliminary charges of murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Hamilton, 42, has been charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Birk added Middletown police are working closely with the Preble County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser, and the Preble County Prosecutor’s Office.
Two other children who lived in the same household have been removed, Birk said.
Additional details were not available. We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.