By David Lohr
June 5, 2007
RICHLAND, Wash. (Crime Library) — Yesterday, I was sitting at my desk doing background research on a future story when I received a Google alert regarding a disturbing case out of Benton County in southeastern Washington. The details of the case sickened me. I debated for nearly an hour on whether or not I wanted to cover it. In the end, I decided that the story needed to be told. If not for the sake of making the perpetrator's name known, then for the possibility that some of the readers will begin to take a deeper interest in their children's online activities.
On Monday May 25, the Memorial Day holiday, a neighbor of 17-year-old James Allen Wamsley asked the teen if he could watch her children, a 3-year-old and a nine-month-old baby boy. Wamsley was more than happy to oblige; however, at some point, the teenager chose to cross several lines, both moral and legal.
200.jpg) |
| James Wamsley |
At about 11:20 p.m., when the neighbor returned from a family picnic, she discovered her infant was severely injured and placed an emergency call to 911. Paramedics transported the child to Kadlec Medical Center where he was treated for sexual assault.
Richland Police Captain Mike Cobb was at the hospital when the infant was brought in. He later described what he saw to KNDU-TV.
200.jpg) |
| James Wamsley |
"The child had been brought in, injuries to the child demonstrated that some sort of sexual assault had occurred," Capt. Cobb said. "This is probably one of the most disturbing type of events that ever occurs to a police officer or a family member. So it's nothing we ever want to hear, nothing we ever want to investigate, but unfortunately, all too often we have to."
Next Page
For More Daily Crime News
default
increase
decrease
email
print