Killer Mom Throws 6-Year-Old Son Into The Ohio River, Reports Him Missing That Same Morning

[00:00:00]So, what happened? What time did you guys go to bed last night?

[00:00:03]>> Well, the kids go to bed at 9:00.

[00:00:05]>> Okay.

[00:00:06]>> And >> did it kill him?

[00:00:09]>> Did you take it back home with you?

[00:00:11]>> No, I left it.

[00:00:12]>> You left it? Is it Is it the Ohio River?

[00:00:16]Is that where we're talking about or where?

[00:00:21]>> It's between Indiana and Kentucky.

[00:00:23]>> Okay.

[00:00:24]>> East.

[00:00:27]February 28th, 2021.

[00:00:30]On this Sunday morning, a 29-year-old woman and her boyfriend walked into the Middletown, Ohio Police Department to report a missing child. That woman is Brittany Gosny. The same woman sitting across from the detective and who had just been charged with the murder of her six-year-old son, James.

[00:00:51]>> And the boy's hurt, then I need to know that kind of stuff. If you're protecting James, your boyfriend, from something he may have done accidentally, then I need to know that. Uh, I'm going to ask you to take a polygraph exam. Do you know what that is? It's a lie detector test.

[00:01:07]Okay. And um cuz I there's something going on here. Something's not right here. I've done this. Like I said, I've interviewed hundred hundreds of people over my career. And you know, people get scared. They get themselves backed into a corner and they don't know what to do.

[00:01:21]And my job is to help them through that because sometimes it is what it is. It's an act. Something happened and you parents freak out and um you know don't know what to do. Okay. So my job is to I'm going to go talk to James here in a few minutes and I'm sure he's going to tell me a little bit different story.

[00:01:40]Okay. Because that's what I get. That's what I find when people aren't telling me the whole truth about everything.

[00:01:46]um you can help yourself out tremendously if you know anything about anything that happened because if I prove otherwise that you didn't tell me the whole truth then that doesn't look good for you.

[00:01:59]Okay, that's not going to be good. If you're forthcoming with me now, I can deal with whatever happened.

[00:02:06]>> Her boyfriend is 43-year-old James Hamilton. He is in another room of this same building being asked the same questions. They will never speak to each other again, and neither of them knows what the other is saying.

[00:02:21]James Robert Hutchinson is 6 years old, a first grader at Rosa Parks Elementary in Middletown, Ohio. At school, he is the boy who hugs his teachers, all of them, every morning on his way through the door. His principal will remember him as a happy and joyful soul who loved school. on the last Friday of February 2021. His seat is empty.

[00:02:47]For context, let's back up a year ago.

[00:02:50]It is 2020 and Britney is married to James's father, Lewis Hutchinson. She stocks shelves at Family Dollar for a while, rings up groceries at Kroger, and by this winter, she has neither job. The whole family moved in with her sister-in-law, Priscilla. It is at Priscilla's house that Brittany starts seeing her husband, James Hamilton.

[00:03:13]The affair ends both marriages in everything but paperwork. Brittany and Hamilton leave together, motel, then rentals, then one week before this morning, the house on Crawford Street.

[00:03:25]Lewis keeps asking to take the kids.

[00:03:28]Brittany keeps saying yes. And then when he comes for them, no. Brittany herself was 12 when children's services took her from her father's house. She grew up in foster and group homes until she aged out at 18. At 29, she was a mother of four. Court evaluation later shows she gave birth to her first child at age 12 and was sexually abused.

[00:03:56]Fast forward to today, February 28th, 2021.

[00:04:00]Brittany Gosny and James Hamilton are here in the Middletown Police Department to report James missing from his bed.

[00:04:09]Their stories don't match, and within minutes, detectives split them into separate rooms.

[00:04:16]She doesn't know it yet, but nobody here believes the walk-in story. And down the hall, in Hoover's own words, Hamilton is coming off this slowly. A polygraph examiner is on his way.

[00:04:47]All right, cool.

[00:04:50]>> All right, bud.

[00:04:53]All right, what's your name?

[00:04:55]Britney. Britney, do I spell it right?

[00:05:03]>> Amy Y. Is that a N Y at the end?

[00:05:07]>> It is now. All right. What's your last name?

[00:05:11]>> DNY. G O S N Y.

[00:05:17]>> What's your date of birth?

[00:05:18]>> 25 92.

[00:05:22]>> All right. So, tell me what's going on.

[00:05:25]What happened here? I'm Detective Hoover. Okay. They call me and my partner out for anything to do with children, missing children, children that have been abused, whatever. That's what me and one other guy do here at the PD. Okay? So, this is real important.

[00:05:42]This part is you have to be 100% honest with me with everything. Okay? Cuz we don't have this. We're missing a six-year-old little boy and we're trying to figure out where he's at. I got to make sure he's safe. Okay. So, you know, your cooperation goes a long, long way.

[00:06:00]Okay. But you have to be honest with me with everything. No matter what the circumstances are, okay? So, you can remove your mask if you would. If you don't care, do you care to take off your mask? Okay.

[00:06:13]>> As long as you don't have co >> I don't. Do you?

[00:06:15]>> No.

[00:06:15]>> Then we're good. Okay. So, what happened? What time did you guys go to bed last night?

[00:06:21]>> Well, the kids go to bed at night. Okay.

[00:06:24]>> And we normally go to bed at 10:00.

[00:06:26]>> Mhm.

[00:06:27]>> Um, last time I knew I told them told them all it was 9 9:00 time for bed.

[00:06:34]>> So they all went upstairs to the rooms >> and I went upstairs a little bit later to see if they were asleep.

[00:06:40]>> Sure.

[00:06:41]>> And they were all asleep. So then that's when I came down, waited a couple minutes just to see if they might have come down stairs or something and then I went to bed.

[00:06:50]>> Okay. What time did you get up this morning?

[00:06:53]Um, he woke me up at 8.

[00:06:55]>> He woke you up at 8. Um, did he wake you up anytime before that to say that um, James was missing?

[00:07:05]>> Not that I remember. I >> You said you tried to wake me up several times, but >> But you don't remember?

[00:07:10]>> Medicine. So, >> what kind of medicine do you take?

[00:07:12]>> I take anxiety meds.

[00:07:14]>> Okay. I do, too. So, uh, what's it called? What do you take?

[00:07:19]>> Um, hydroxyine.

[00:07:22]three times a day and I take this blue pill. I don't know what the blue pill's called time.

[00:07:30]>> This is where I need you to be honest with me. It is what it is. Okay. Do you use any other type of narcotics, drugs, illegal drugs or anything? Do you smoke weed? Do you >> Okay. You don't use heroin? You don't use u >> No. I've had family members that away from that stuff and >> Okay.

[00:07:48]>> That pushes me away. So, >> do you know if you're um boyfriend does.

[00:07:53]Does he use any type of dope at all? Not that you know of. Well, you would know more than anybody. That's what I'm asking.

[00:08:01]You're not going to get him in any trouble. I just need to know if you're being honest with me. That's what I'm trying to feel.

[00:08:05]>> I mean, I've never seen I mean, we smoke cigarettes.

[00:08:11]>> I'm not talking about that. I said drugs, illegal drugs.

[00:08:14]>> Of course, a lot of people smoke cigarettes. A lot of people smoke weed.

[00:08:18]A lot of people use >> I mean he smokes weed, but that's the only thing I know. Okay, that's all.

[00:08:22]>> I don't know if he does anything else.

[00:08:24]>> Okay, you don't need to protect him. I'm just getting I'm getting a feel for you if you're going to be honest. I just need you to be honest with me. Honestly, don't overread into any of my questions.

[00:08:33]Okay, I promise you. Um, so he wakes you up at 8 and tells you what or you wake up. Do you wake up on your own at 8 or does he wake you up at 8?

[00:08:47]Well, he woke me up and cuz he went looking around first. He said he had come in there several times before.

[00:08:56]>> Mhm.

[00:08:57]>> To try to wake me up.

[00:09:00]And he said I didn't respond to any time. So, he just went outside and looked around, went through the all the rooms, the closets and all that. And he couldn't find him anywhere. So then the next thing he thought to do was just go around a couple blocks, >> see if he might be close by.

[00:09:20]>> Did he walk there or did he drive there or what did he do for that part?

[00:09:24]>> Um he drove around.

[00:09:25]>> Okay.

[00:09:27]>> Um but he came back and woke me up and he was like, "You know James is gone." I was like, "What?"

[00:09:36]And I was like, "No, I thought he was upstairs asleep."

[00:09:40]And I even woke up the brother and sister maybe seen thinking they might have seen him up about moving around or something and they said they didn't hear nothing. They didn't see him.

[00:09:58]>> So the baby's name is James Hutchinson.

[00:10:01]>> Mhm. [clears throat] >> Okay. What's his date of birth? 6:30 14.

[00:10:12]He's a baby, so I'm kind of worried about it.

[00:10:15]>> Well, sure. Yeah, I'll be more than kind of, huh?

[00:10:19]>> So, tell me what kind of kid he is.

[00:10:21]>> Um, he's I mean, he has ADHD.

[00:10:25]>> He struggles real bad in school. He struggles to pay attention.

[00:10:30]I mean, he's otherwise than that, like in school and stuff. He's They said he's good in school. He tries to focus.

[00:10:36]>> He's physically healthy. No health issues. Oh, great. He looks good cuz good boy at home.

[00:10:42]>> Yeah.

[00:10:43]>> Pretty good boy. How do you guys discipline him when he does >> stand?

[00:10:48]I mean, again, there's no I spank my kids. My kids are grown now, but I did spank my kids. There's no nothing wrong with that. Do you spank them? Do you just ground them? Do you take stuff from them?

[00:11:00]>> Well, my son with the red hair because he likes playing like video games and stuff like that.

[00:11:08]>> Well, my the baby doesn't really know how to work controllers and stuff. He tries, >> but um we um just make him stand in a corner just for like a little bit to make them know that you ain't supposed to do that.

[00:11:26]Is James in school yet?

[00:11:28]>> Yes, he's in first grade.

[00:11:29]>> He's in first grade. Where does he go to school?

[00:11:31]>> Rosa Parks.

[00:11:31]>> Rosa Parks. Okay. Uh, when's the last time he was in school?

[00:11:35]>> Um, well, it's every Monday, Tuesday, so he was in school last Tuesday.

[00:11:40]>> Okay. So, he goes two days a week, Mondays and Tuesdays down at Rosa Parks.

[00:11:45]>> Yeah.

[00:11:45]>> Okay. U, but you're saying other than he's a pretty good kid. Dis I mean, as far as like behaviorally, I mean, he's a six-year-old, so I know six-year-olds. I mean, he has his little pits here and there, his tantrums. I just overlook it, >> right?

[00:12:01]>> Cuz I mean, that's the only thing you can do cuz I mean, the other ones have the same thing or they like to throw theelves down to the floor, >> right?

[00:12:09]>> Stomping or something like that. But other than that, he's pretty good kid.

[00:12:15]>> What's What's the address on there?

[00:12:17]>> 50.

[00:12:20]>> And how long have you guys lived there?

[00:12:22]>> We just moved in there. We just like yesterday, a week ago.

[00:12:25]>> Oh, two weeks. The beginning of the month.

[00:12:26]>> The beginning of the month. Okay. So, beginning of February.

[00:12:30]>> Yeah.

[00:12:30]>> So, about four three or four weeks. Four weeksish. Okay.

[00:12:35]>> Um, the room that James sleeps in, there's a pillow in there and there's like some scratches on the floor. You know what I'm talking? I don't know. It looks like maybe with a toy maybe or something like that.

[00:12:50]>> The kids play upstairs. in the room.

[00:12:52]>> Have you ever noticed those scratches before? Do you know what I'm talking about when I say that?

[00:12:56]>> You do not?

[00:12:58]>> No. I It could have been there when we moved in.

[00:13:01]>> Yeah, sure. I don't know if you paid attention to >> I didn't really look at the floors.

[00:13:04]>> Okay. Do you have mattresses for the kids or anything like that?

[00:13:07]>> We've been trying to get some.

[00:13:08]>> Okay.

[00:13:09]>> I've been calling around asking um for furniture vouchers >> and everywhere around here is not helping us right now.

[00:13:19]>> Where do you work at?

[00:13:20]>> Um I don't work. I'm a stay- at home mom.

[00:13:22]>> Okay. And where does James work at?

[00:13:24]>> Um with the landlord.

[00:13:26]>> So he does odd jobs like that like cleaning up stuff or >> he does electric.

[00:13:30]>> Oh, okay. Good. That's a good trade to have.

[00:13:33]>> So >> really good trade to have. You can make some money.

[00:13:35]>> Yeah. He's trying to work on getting his um like the degree or whatever certificate. Yeah.

[00:13:41]>> And so he can actually start doing actual work work like major work so we can get more paid.

[00:13:49]>> Right. What time did James say that he first noticed uh James missing the the six-year-old missing?

[00:13:56]>> Well, he I don't know what time he exactly got up, but he normally every day normally he gets up around 4.

[00:14:04]Anywhere from 4:00 to 5:00, maybe sometimes a little later, >> but other than that, cuz he's used to early morning work.

[00:14:14]>> Mhm.

[00:14:14]>> I normally sleep in until about 8:00, but or later. I know. Just like couple days and I slept till 12.

[00:14:22]>> All right. Has James ever walked out? I mean, been missing before.

[00:14:27]>> Um, he's he was missing once before.

[00:14:30]>> How long ago was that?

[00:14:32]>> Um, I want to say it was the first of the month, but it could have been later than that, but I know it was sometime this month.

[00:14:41]>> All right. From that house.

[00:14:42]>> Yes.

[00:14:43]>> All right. So, he was missing once before from that house. And how long was he gone for? Um, I don't know when he was outside, but we found out Well, he found him at the the You know how there's basement fairs?

[00:14:56]>> Well, he found him at the bottom of the basement stairs. I don't know what he was doing, but >> Is there only one way to get into your basement?

[00:15:02]>> Yeah.

[00:15:03]>> That's from the outside.

[00:15:04]>> Mhm.

[00:15:04]>> Okay. Um, is that is it a big door that you have to pull open or what is it?

[00:15:11]>> Um, well, you'd have to have a key to get in there. So >> he started locking it after that.

[00:15:17]>> Yeah. That's probably why he doesn't >> Right.

[00:15:20]>> didn't try that route.

[00:15:21]>> Right. Right. So how long do you think he was gone then? That you just get a few minutes or >> um >> an hour >> I honestly don't have a clue.

[00:15:33]>> Okay. Um and where did you meet James at Hamilton?

[00:15:38]>> Um at his um ex-wife's house.

[00:15:44]>> How'd that turn out? Um, well, I was with somebody else at the time and basically we were homeless.

[00:15:51]>> Mhm.

[00:15:52]>> And um, I've known him for several years.

[00:15:57]>> You've known James for seven years?

[00:15:59]>> Several.

[00:16:00]>> Okay.

[00:16:01]>> And, um, I figured since we was homeless, call them up, see, hey, can we move in till we find something else, get situated or whatever.

[00:16:12]And He said, "Yeah, that's fine. We'll come visit you guys."

[00:16:17]>> Mhm.

[00:16:18]So he came to us and we lived there for I want to say like two or three months or later more and then um they husband and wife had a big argument and yeah >> they had a big argument or whatever and um he found out she was cheating on him and whole bunch of crazy nonsense. I didn't want to get involved. I was like, "Uh, okay." So, I try to stay out of their business.

[00:16:52]>> Mhm.

[00:16:54]>> But I don't know if you guys been romantically involved >> for almost a year.

[00:17:00]>> For almost a year and then you just moved in together for the first time or were you living?

[00:17:05]>> Well, we was living Well, once they started arguing and all that, we neither one of us had a place to live.

[00:17:12]>> So, we went to the hotel in Dayton.

[00:17:15]>> Mhm. cuz we was trying to find cheap hotels we can afford.

[00:17:19]>> Mhm.

[00:17:19]>> So that was the cheapest one we could find. So we just uh went and got a um a motel until we was able to save up enough money to get our own place and we were just now able to get our own place.

[00:17:36]>> Okay. Now, did you guys live next door there for a while?

[00:17:39]>> Uh no, him and his ex-wife >> live there. Yeah.

[00:17:43]>> Okay. All right. So you guys were staying in hotels >> here and there and then finally got displaced last month of the February.

[00:17:51]>> Mhm.

[00:17:51]>> I got you. All right. Uh you only had the three children?

[00:17:55]>> Yes.

[00:17:55]>> Okay. Um are you in love with with James?

[00:18:01]>> Okay. All right. Um how does games discipline the children?

[00:18:08]>> Same thing I do. Make them stand for a couple minutes.

[00:18:11]>> All right. Where do you think your child is now? Any idea?

[00:18:15]>> I have no idea.

[00:18:16]>> Okay. And he's six and his date of birth was in June.

[00:18:21]>> Mhm.

[00:18:22]>> So he'll be seven here in June.

[00:18:24]>> Mhm.

[00:18:24]>> I got you.

[00:18:28]>> Yeah. My the middle son's. They're both like a year Well, a month and so my days in a year apart.

[00:18:40]Oh man.

[00:18:51]>> Let me get the other two children's names.

[00:18:54]>> Um, and they have both of them have the same last name as me.

[00:19:00]>> Seven.

[00:19:01]>> Yes.

[00:19:02]>> What's his date of birth?

[00:19:04]>> 72113.

[00:19:09]and the and the girl.

[00:19:10]>> Oh, >> that's my little girl's name. And she is how old?

[00:19:16]>> She's going to be 10 in October.

[00:19:18]>> So, she's nine. What's her date of birth?

[00:19:20]>> 10 19 2011.

[00:19:26]And they all go to the same school.

[00:19:30]>> Rosa Parks.

[00:19:31]>> Mhm.

[00:19:36]They're not really liking this co stuff and having to do their work on it here.

[00:19:41]They're used to their teacher trying to help them out. I try my best to help them out. But >> anytime I have a question about their work, I try to contact the teacher >> when they're when I think they're not busy cuz they keep changing the days of the well, they go by the the initials of your last names. So, um, mine's goes Monday and Tuesday and then the other kids that have different last names goes well, they used to go to Thursday and Friday, now they put it to Wednesday, Thursday.

[00:20:16]>> So, everybody gets three-day weekend.

[00:20:18]>> Yeah.

[00:20:19]>> And then we have remote they Well, they normally have remote learning on Wednesday.

[00:20:24]>> Mhm.

[00:20:24]>> And now they just switched up to Friday.

[00:20:27]So, >> Okay.

[00:20:29]>> All right. So, I've been a policeman for 27 years. Um, I've been assigned to detectives about 10 years. I've interviewed a lot of people, hundreds, hundreds and hundreds of people over my career. Um, I was talking on the news that uh for like last month >> of them trying to look for this little boy.

[00:20:53]>> Well, I'll find him. Okay. I'm really good at my job, so I'm going to find your boy. Okay. Um, and my partner's really good at his job.

[00:21:03]So, that's what we do. We won't leave here until we find this boy. I need you to be um, you know, if you you can think of anything you need to talk to me about and I need you to make sure you tell me.

[00:21:16]Okay. Um, if you're protecting yourself because maybe something went arry and the boys hurt, then I need to know that kind of stuff. If you're protecting James, your boyfriend, from something he may have done accidentally, then I need to know that. Uh, I'm going to ask you to take a polygraph exam. Do you know what that is? It's a lie detector test.

[00:21:37]Okay. And um cuz I there's something going on here. Something's not right here. I've done this. Like I said, I've interviewed hund hundreds of people over my career and you know, people get scared. They get themselves backed into a corner and they don't know what to do.

[00:21:52]And my job is to help them through that because sometimes it is what it is. It's an act something happened and you parents freak out and um you know don't know what to do. Okay. So my job is to I'm going to go talk to James here in a few minutes and I'm sure he's going to tell me a little bit different story.

[00:22:11]Okay. Because that's what I get. That's what I find when people aren't telling me the whole truth about everything. Um, you can help yourself out tremendously if you know anything about anything that happened. Because if I prove otherwise that you didn't tell me the whole truth, then that doesn't look good for you.

[00:22:29]Okay? That's not going to be good. If you're forthcoming with me now, I can deal with whatever happens.

[00:22:35]I can deal with whatever and we can go through that together. Okay? But I need you to be honest with me about everything cuz I'm going to find what happened. I'm good at my job and I'm going to find what happened to this little boy. Um, so is anything else before I walk out of here, this is your opportunity to be 100% straight with me. I suspect James or this is I got mad at the boy last night and he I spanked him and he took off out the door or just anything weird is fine to tell me. You're not going to tell me anything that's going to surprise me. Okay.

[00:23:06]>> No, I mean, >> did you hurt your baby?

[00:23:11]>> No.

[00:23:12]>> Now, do you know >> I love my kids. I would never.

[00:23:14]>> Okay. Do you know who hurt your baby?

[00:23:16]>> No.

[00:23:17]>> All right. Do you know your baby's whereabouts right now?

[00:23:21]>> Okay. Do you do you suspect James is doing anything to your baby?

[00:23:25]>> No.

[00:23:26]>> Okay. You're 100% sure on that one.

[00:23:29]>> Yeah. He loves my throw.

[00:23:31]>> Okay. All right. Just hang tight. You want something to drink?

[00:23:35]>> I need to use the bathroom. I been able to use the bathroom.

[00:23:38]>> You can do that. I'll let you do that.

[00:23:39]You want uh water or Coke or Mountain Dew? Anything to drink? cuz I'm thirsty.

[00:23:45]That's why I'm asking.

[00:23:48]>> I'm more worried about trying to find my babies.

[00:23:50]>> Okay. All right. Then hang tight for a few more minutes. Okay. I got a polygraph guy coming in. Okay. And he's going to ask you the same questions pretty much that I asked you.

[00:24:00]>> If you know the whereabouts of your baby or if you know what happened to uh James. Okay. Um >> Hoover tells her almost nothing. He says he'll talk to James in a few minutes and lets her imagination do the interrogating.

[00:24:20]Hi, it's me. Not to disrupt your flow, just a quick heads up. That polygraph examiner never gets to ask a single question. And the second half of this video shows why. If you're new here, a like and a subscribe genuinely help. And for those who have been with me from episode 1, thanks for sticking around.

[00:24:46]You know, before you go through that process, again, I'm going to ask one more time. Is there anything you need to tell me before I walk out of this room?

[00:24:56]Cuz I feel like there is. I feel like there's something you're holding back from me.

[00:24:59]>> No, I can't remember exactly what time he woke me up.

[00:25:03]>> No, I'm not worried about that. I understand that.

[00:25:05]>> Or what time he was up or what?

[00:25:07]>> Well, I'm a little confused that the baby's been missing since 4:30ish. We'll say, "Okay." And we don't get the call till after 10:00 a.m.

[00:25:17]That's peculiar to me. You understand why? Do you see that?

[00:25:22]>> Because it's a lot of hours.

[00:25:24]>> That's a lot of hours. You're missing a six-year-old, a first grader, and the police aren't called. So, obviously, that draws suspicion. Okay. Uh, the examiner is still on the road.

[00:26:00]Hoover comes back in early with something the children have been telling the detectives down the hall.

[00:26:07]>> The six children get in trouble last night.

[00:26:28]Do you remember >> far? I'm trying to remember.

[00:26:41]>> Yeah, he got in trouble for something. I remember what it was.

[00:26:44]>> You don't remember what it was? What was the punishment last night?

[00:26:47]>> Corner.

[00:26:48]>> Corner. Um, >> I don't really like putting my hand on my kids.

[00:26:54]>> That's okay. That's fine. Some people don't. I didn't have a problem with it.

[00:26:58]So, and I didn't, you know, spank on the buzz what I'm talking about, of course.

[00:27:03]But, uh, [clears throat] the kids said something about, uh, you guys, what did you have for dinner last night?

[00:27:17]>> They had pizza rolls and the kids.

[00:27:20]>> The kids did. Okay. They're They're telling me that James had gotten in trouble for something.

[00:27:27]and that he wasn't given pizza rolls, but he he was given bread instead because that was his punishment.

[00:27:35]You remember that?

[00:27:36]>> No, we gave them like lunch meat sandwiches at um lunchtime >> and then he fed up all three of them, you're saying got pizza rolls last night?

[00:27:47]Why would the kids tell me that? It's my it's my experience that the most truth you're going to get out of anybody is from a child and both the you know I got a six and or a seven and eight nineyear-old or 8-year-old almost or 9-year-old almost that is telling me that he got in trouble so he wasn't get he wasn't allowed to have he had to miss dinner and give him bread and something to drink instead.

[00:28:16]Why would they tell me that?

[00:28:22]>> I don't know. They had bread. They had they had bread for lunch.

[00:28:27]>> Okay.

[00:28:29]>> I don't know if they kind of got lunch and dinner. Confused.

[00:28:32]>> Okay. Was Was he punished by not giving any type of food at some point yesterday? Maybe not dinner, but maybe lunch. Maybe that's what they're getting confused.

[00:28:42]But they had lunch meat sandwiches.

[00:28:44]You're saying it needs to have lunch.

[00:28:47]>> Yeah.

[00:28:48]>> I don't never make them go without any milk. I rather Oh, I know that.

[00:28:51]>> I'd rather go without before they >> I understand what you're saying. I was trying to figure out what they're talking about, what the kids are talking about.

[00:28:58]>> I have no idea.

[00:29:01]>> This morning, her account was two sentences long. The kids went to bed at 9:00 and at 4:30, James wasn't in his bed. It now has a shadow in it.

[00:29:16]done talking to James and he's telling us he's coming around. So this is the deal. Are you reading right?

[00:29:25]>> Can you read?

[00:29:26]>> I can read somewhere out there or some words like it's like big words. I can't understand.

[00:29:31]>> Okay, I'm going to read this to you.

[00:29:34]What you don't understand, I'll explain it to you. Does that sound good? Says, "Warning, I am a police officer. I warning you to have the right to remain silent." They they say can or will be used against you in a court of law.

[00:29:47]You have the right to consult with a lawyer before before and during any question and have lawyer present while you're being questioned. That if you cannot afford a lawyer won't be appointed to you free before any questioning and you can stop talking to me or any other police officer at any time during questioning.

[00:30:03]Do you understand that?

[00:30:05]Meaning that I'm not forcing you to talk to me. I'm trying to figure out what's going on with your baby. Okay. Flip that card over. Do you understand that? Okay.

[00:30:14]>> Sorry. I just never been through that before.

[00:30:17]>> I need you to print your name right here. You're saying you understand that date and time.

[00:30:23]>> You said print.

[00:30:25]>> Yeah.

[00:30:29]>> Are the kids?

[00:30:31]>> Yeah.

[00:30:31]>> We're out there eating food. Junk food.

[00:30:35]Sorry. That's all we have here.

[00:30:38]>> Hey, it's something, huh?

[00:30:39]>> Yep. Today is February 28th.

[00:30:42]>> Start right. February 8 228 is fine of 21.

[00:30:51]>> And the time is 1:11 p.m.

[00:30:57]>> Yes.

[00:31:00]Thank you.

[00:31:03]>> All right. So, James is telling a little different story.

[00:31:11]All right. So, this is what I need to know. In the middle of the night last night, okay, you went upstairs and you got you picked James up out of his room and you went downstairs where your boyfriend was at. Tell me I and I'm not going to go into everything James has told me, okay? Cuz I'm still looking for you to be honest with me, okay?

[00:31:41]Tell me about that.

[00:31:43]Tell me what happened after you picked him up out of the room and went downstairs.

[00:31:57]I say I don't remember picking him up, taking him downstairs.

[00:32:02]You don't remember anything about picking him up, taking him downstairs.

[00:32:09]James is pushing this off on you, okay?

[00:32:11]I'm going to be real upfront with you about this at this point, okay? So, you need to be very smart. And honesty goes a long long way with me. And if there's any criminal charges in the future, honesty goes a long way. Okay? I'm getting a story that is totally different than what you have told me.

[00:32:31]And I don't know why James is telling me that, but that's what he's telling me.

[00:32:35]Okay? That's part of what he's telling me. Okay? He's wanting to more detail than that. Okay? But I'm not going to share that with you. I need to know what happened last night with your your boy, your six-year-old or this morning, early this morning in the middle of the night, whatever.

[00:33:02]>> I don't know if you said, but he had a nightmare.

[00:33:07]>> The six-year-old.

[00:33:08]>> Yeah, but he didn't I didn't carry him downstairs or anything.

[00:33:11]>> Okay. Who carried him down the steps?

[00:33:13]>> He walked down the steps.

[00:33:14]>> He walked down the steps in the middle of the night. About what time was that?

[00:33:27]>> I don't I [clears throat] couldn't tell you. I didn't pay attention to time.

[00:33:30]>> In the middle of the night.

[00:33:31]>> Yeah. I was more worried about what was wrong with him.

[00:33:37]>> What does that mean?

[00:33:39]>> Like what? why he was downstairs.

[00:33:42]>> Why was he uh downstairs? Why was he awake?

[00:33:51]>> Uh what was bothering him? Did he feel sick or he's had a used bathroom?

[00:33:57]>> Okay, so he's downstairs and what does he say to you?

[00:34:00]>> Me had a nightmare.

[00:34:02]>> Okay, in those words. Okay, so me had a nightmare. What did you do? What did you What was the next thing you did?

[00:34:10]just try to sit there. And >> did he where did he come to the living room?

[00:34:16]>> No, he went in there and woke me up >> in bed.

[00:34:19]>> Yeah.

[00:34:20]>> And was James in bed with you at the time?

[00:34:22]>> Yeah.

[00:34:23]>> And then what happened?

[00:34:26]>> He come in there and said, "Mommy, I don't know how many times he probably >> said my name. I'm a deep sleeper."

[00:34:32]>> Okay.

[00:34:33]>> Uh but I was rolling over and I heard mommy. Mommy.

[00:34:41]At first, I thought I was just hearing things, but then something told me like maybe I'm not hearing things.

[00:34:47]>> Mhm.

[00:34:48]>> So, I opened my eyes and he said, "Mommy, we had a nightmare."

[00:34:54]Or, "Mommy, we see a shadow."

[00:34:57]I was like, "What shadow?"

[00:34:59]>> Mhm.

[00:35:00]>> He said, "I don't know. They're white."

[00:35:04]I'm like, >> he's like, "Do you know what it is?" I said, "I don't know."

[00:35:12]And then he said he couldn't really sleep.

[00:35:16]Couldn't tell me what he was dreaming about or his nightmare was.

[00:35:21]Just he was scared.

[00:35:23]>> So, how long have you been asleep before you think he woke you up? Roughly, if you could guess. If you could guess, >> I don't know, maybe like >> 3 or 4 hours.

[00:35:47]>> Okay. So, if you >> So, I mean, once I go to bed, >> I go to bed at 10. Once I go to bed, I'm I'm out.

[00:35:54]>> So, why didn't you tell me all this prior to before when we were talking? Why didn't you tell me all this story before?

[00:36:05]Because I just asked you if you remember going upstairs originally when I came in because that's what I'm being told and you didn't remember any of that. Now all of a sudden you're remembering detail about him.

[00:36:16]>> I have a bad problem with memory issues.

[00:36:21]>> Um I can't I couldn't tell you about I can't remember dayto day.

[00:36:28]>> Okay.

[00:36:29]You're still not lying. You're you're lying to me about some stuff. So, are you did you grow up in church or anything in the faith?

[00:36:42]>> Christian faith.

[00:36:43]>> Um, >> I remember when I was a little kid that my grandma used to take me to church all the time.

[00:36:51]>> Well, I suspect something accidentally happened. Okay. Because you you are all over the place with your stories. Okay.

[00:36:59]For whatever reason, you're scared and you're not telling me the whole truth, okay? And I understand you being scared.

[00:37:06]I know you don't know me, okay? But I'm the most honest policeman person that you're ever going to talk to, okay? I'm telling you, it's in your best interest to tell me the entire truth, okay? Or you're going to be in a world of hurt.

[00:37:21]I'm telling you, no matter what happened, if it was, no matter what happened, if by telling me the truth goes a long way. It's going to go a long long way in this process. Okay. I know that something h that something either accidental or something happened to James or you wouldn't be all over the place like this. I've done this a long time. Okay. This is all I've done for 27 years. Okay. Is talk to people. You have to tell me what's going on and what happened. Okay. At this point, because James, your boyfriend, is telling a different story than what you're telling. Okay, you're deflecting. You are minimizing stuff. Meaning that, you know, you're not just not telling me the whole truth. Well, he's breaking down. Okay, he's telling me the whole truth. Okay, so you can sit here and keep lying to me. I can't make you tell me the truth.

[00:38:15]You know that. You're going to have to take a deep breath and tell me what happened and what's going on here because something happened. Okay?

[00:38:22]There's nothing you're going to tell me that I've not heard a million times over my career. Okay? But I need to know the truth because believe it or not, I know it's an old cliche, the truth is what helps people. The truth is what sets people free. Okay? You don't want to live with what's going on here. Okay?

[00:38:41]You want to tell me the truth. Most people finally tell me, "Okay, this is what's going on." Okay? That's your choice, huh? Okay. But you know what happened. You know what happened? Only you know and James knows, but only you're going to be able to get out in front of this the best you can. Okay. I have to see some remorse.

[00:39:01]Okay. I >> What is remorse?

[00:39:04]>> Well, I have to see that.

[00:39:07]Okay. I I've not been telling you the whole truth. I'm sorry. Remorse means I'm sorry. Okay. I have So, you understand what I'm saying? This is what this is what happened and this is the truth. Okay.

[00:39:19]A six-year-old just doesn't get up and walk out the door. Okay. There's more to the story than what you're telling me.

[00:39:27]Okay. I've talked to James. My partner's talked to James extensively and James is coming off of this slowly.

[00:39:35]I would suggest for you just tell me the truth. Now, he might have told him more now. I don't know. I'm not I've been in here with you. Okay. But James is he took a deep breath and I suggest that to you. Take a drink of your pop. Take a deep breath and just tell me what's going on here. Okay? Stuff happens in life. There's no perfect parent. There's no perfect person. I got very pissed off at my kids many, many times over my lifetime and been aggravated with them to the point where Yeah. I could literally choke them out.

[00:40:06]>> I get aggravated with them a lot, but I wouldn't.

[00:40:08]>> Okay. Tell me what's going on with the with the baby. Take Tell me the truth this time. The entire truth.

[00:40:17]Sorry, my anxieties.

[00:40:19]>> I understand that >> also to >> I understand that. Okay. And maybe something did happen that you didn't mean for it to happen, but I need to know that. Okay. That's what I'm trying to get out of you. Okay. I talk to parents every day. They do stuff that they I I don't I understand.

[00:40:37]>> Okay. You had a moment of fury. I've been furious with my children before.

[00:40:43]>> How many kids do you have?

[00:40:44]>> I have three. same as me.

[00:40:46]>> Okay. And now mine are adults, two married, one engaged, but they're adults now. But there was many times that I lost my temper with them severely.

[00:40:58]Okay? And stuff that I regret doing.

[00:41:01]Okay? We all have regrets. There ain't nobody in this building that doesn't have regrets and stuff that they made mistakes. There's nobody perfect here.

[00:41:08]But I need you to be tell me what's going on with your boy and tell me what happened truthfully. Okay. So, you just took a drink of your pop. Tell me what's going on.

[00:41:23]>> Sorry, I'm trying not to get anxiety to calm down.

[00:41:27]>> Just take a deep breath and just tell me what happened.

[00:41:31]>> Okay.

[00:41:34]Okay. The kids wasn't listening.

[00:41:39]Well, you know, kids don't listen. You probably been there a lot. Well, he wasn't listening.

[00:41:46]I try my best. I don't like yelling and screaming at my >> cuz I feel like if you're yelling and screaming at them, they don't want to listen.

[00:41:54]>> Okay.

[00:41:55]>> So, they're more scared of >> you yelling and screaming at them than wanting to listen to what you're trying to tell them, >> right? Um, [clears throat] but anyways, we took the K I'm sure you did too, but we took the we take kids as like the toys, take them away, put them up.

[00:42:14]>> Mhm.

[00:42:15]>> Until they start >> right >> coming back to being behaved.

[00:42:20]>> Mhm.

[00:42:21]>> Um, they also have a lot of times lying about I didn't pee myself and >> stuff like that. I the one that South the boy >> the son he likes peeing on himself and kind of I'm sorry mom but yes I did like 20 minutes later like why wasn't you telling me then?

[00:42:40]>> Mhm.

[00:42:41]>> But anyways um they were they wasn't listening.

[00:42:52]>> Mhm. and he thought that James thought I wasn't making him, >> right?

[00:43:01]>> Um cuz he's normally at work non-stop, >> but um [clears throat] you know, he thinks they're they hate him because they don't really listen to him.

[00:43:16]>> Well, sometimes they don't even listen to me, but they're kids. Sure. Um, but >> we can get into all this blood. Okay.

[00:43:28]Tell me what happened.

[00:43:31]>> He told James told me to get rid of the kids.

[00:43:34]>> Okay.

[00:43:35]>> And so, um, I took them for a drive to make them think I >> want to get rid of them. But I'm not going to get rid of my kids for anybody on the planet.

[00:43:52]>> And he told me to get rid of them because they were not listening. He was tired of putting up with it.

[00:44:00]And I kept telling him like, I'm not going to get rid of me after kids. Like I can take them give you a break.

[00:44:07]>> Mhm.

[00:44:08]>> And from me and them for a little while, take them for a drive, whatever.

[00:44:13]>> But I'm not getting rid of them. They're my kids. I will not do that.

[00:44:17]>> Okay.

[00:44:17]>> And I said, if I wanted to do that, I would have gave them up a long time ago.

[00:44:23]>> But he kept telling me, either get these kids under control or um get rid of them or do something with them. So, I tried asking family members to >> So, what happened last night? Let's fast forward to that.

[00:44:48]We went for a drive.

[00:44:50]>> Mhm.

[00:44:51]>> Um I don't know what road it was.

[00:44:54]>> Okay.

[00:44:55]>> It was just we were just driving around.

[00:44:58]Um well, the kids were going to the bathroom. I had pulled over to this I don't a little booth >> in Middletown.

[00:45:08]>> Yeah. Okay. It's a little >> stall or something.

[00:45:11]>> Mhm. a bathroom. I pulled over to the bathroom and let them all use the bathroom. Well, it was raining and stuff. I left the left the door unlocked in the van.

[00:45:24]>> Mhm.

[00:45:24]>> And told them we all go in here. Not all of us at once, but each one of us go in here one at a time, use the bathroom. So, we went in the bathroom.

[00:45:36]Well, I couldn't go in there, but when I went to go in the bathroom, I told him, "Go ahead and just get in the van."

[00:45:42]>> Mhm.

[00:45:42]>> Well, James had slipped and fell cuz his shoes were sweat, slippery, and he had hit his head.

[00:45:51]>> Mhm.

[00:45:53]>> And >> did it kill him?

[00:45:58]>> Did you tell me? Did it Did the fall hurt him?

[00:46:01]>> Well, he was I asked him if he was okay. He wouldn't answer me. So, I noticed he was breathing kind of heavy.

[00:46:11]>> Mhm.

[00:46:12]>> And I thought maybe that's not normal.

[00:46:15]I've never seen him blurry before. Well, he was breathing I don't know how long he was breathing for, but he had fell and busted his head on the side of the van.

[00:46:26]>> Mhm.

[00:46:27]>> And trying to get in there. And he was breathing heavy for a couple minutes and then and I couldn't I tried to do CPR. I couldn't get him.

[00:46:39]>> So he stopped breathing. And where's his body at?

[00:46:45]>> You're doing good. Okay. Just tell me where his body's at cuz I got to go find him >> for you. Okay. This is called Cloer now.

[00:46:55]Okay.

[00:46:57]Where's Where's his body at? Did you take it back home with you?

[00:47:00]>> No, I left it.

[00:47:02]>> You left it? So, who's all in the car with you?

[00:47:06]>> All of us.

[00:47:07]>> James, you?

[00:47:08]>> Yes. We always know the three children as a family.

[00:47:11]>> So, all five of you?

[00:47:12]>> Yes.

[00:47:12]>> All right. And where what park was this?

[00:47:16]Or where was this at in Middletown?

[00:47:19]>> Cuz it would make sense to put to me.

[00:47:22]>> Did you put him in a dumpster? Did you put him Did you just let him lay right there? Was he buried? I mean, I That's what I need to know.

[00:47:30]>> I didn't do nothing with him. I just let them lay in the parking lot because it was a plain parking lot. There was, I believe, like water over here or something.

[00:47:39]>> Mhm.

[00:47:40]>> And there was a one little stall and I left him just lay on the ground.

[00:47:49]>> Okay. Did James do anything with him?

[00:47:52]your uh boyfriend.

[00:47:56]>> I mean, it doesn't make sense just laying right there on the ground. So, >> well, I left him laying in there on the ground cuz I was going to call the ambulance, but I was >> right.

[00:48:03]>> I was scared, shook up, didn't know what to do.

[00:48:06]>> Okay.

[00:48:06]>> So, >> so now we need to figure out where this is at.

[00:48:11]>> Well, he the b the little boy was laying on the ground. I went to the bathroom, told him try you try real quick cuz I couldn't hold myself. Mhm.

[00:48:21]>> I told him, "You try real quick to give him CPR."

[00:48:24]>> Mhm.

[00:48:25]>> And so I went to the bathroom, I came out, he was gone.

[00:48:29]>> Okay. What did the other two children say about all this?

[00:48:33]>> Um, well, they were in the back seat, so they couldn't >> Okay, I'm going to give you a break here for a second. Okay, take it. Relax.

[00:48:43]Okay, I'm going to go out and talk to James real quick and see if we can't figure out where this is at. Okay.

[00:49:12]She is the last person in this building to find out what you already know.

[00:49:16]Hamilton has been talking for two hours.

[00:49:24]>> All right. So, James has told me that uh Bonnie was off the bridge. Okay.

[00:49:32]That you guys went together to do that this morning. Okay. Um is this is it the Ohio River? Is that what we're talking about? Or where?

[00:49:45]It's between Indiana and Kentucky.

[00:49:47]>> Between Indiana and Kentucky.

[00:49:48]>> I don't really know what I was about.

[00:49:51]>> Okay. Was the body wrapped in anything >> or did you just have clothes on him or what?

[00:49:56]>> He had clothes on.

[00:49:58]>> Okay.

[00:49:58]>> Do you know what he was wearing?

[00:50:00]>> Um his red jacket. It's like a camo red jacket.

[00:50:05]>> Mhm.

[00:50:06]>> Um black and white shoes.

[00:50:08]>> Reds reds.

[00:50:09]>> No, it's just like a plain camo red jacket.

[00:50:12]>> Okay. Um, brown, you know, the brown school pants.

[00:50:17]>> Oh, yeah. Tan.

[00:50:18]>> Yes. A pair of those. And um, it was a black and white shirt. I don't remember what was >> it was a long sleeve. I don't remember.

[00:50:31]>> Um, I can't remember exactly what was on the shirt. I just know that's what he had on.

[00:50:36]>> Sure.

[00:50:40]>> He had the glasses on.

[00:50:42]Did you have his glasses?

[00:50:45]>> Uh, >> where are those?

[00:50:49]>> No, but he has his glasses.

[00:50:51]>> So, whenever he went in the water, he had his glasses.

[00:50:54]>> He Hears them every day.

[00:50:56]>> Okay.

[00:50:56]>> He's >> And you made sure he had them on whenever he >> Mhm.

[00:51:01]>> Right. Now, he Now, James tells us a little bit more detail. Okay. So, I'm going to get into some of that with you now. Okay. and you've been you're you're starting to come around with honesty and I need that. That's what it's going to help you. Okay. And help us find him. Um so the only one of the differences is James says that he wasn't with you up at the park when all this happened. Is that true or not?

[00:51:28]>> I don't know if it was a park. It was an empty parking lot.

[00:51:32]>> It was an empty parking lot.

[00:51:33]>> Was it near near any water near a lake?

[00:51:35]>> There was um water here. I don't know what it was.

[00:51:38]>> See any boat docks? any boats in the water?

[00:51:41]>> Um, not that I recall.

[00:51:42]>> Okay.

[00:51:42]>> And then there's like was off to >> If I pulled it up on a map, would you be able to look at it or no? Was there a >> It was I'm trying to remember the park something run.

[00:51:57]>> Rush run.

[00:51:58]>> Yeah.

[00:51:59]>> Was it rush run?

[00:52:00]>> Yeah.

[00:52:00]>> And you were near the water?

[00:52:02]>> Yeah, it was.

[00:52:04]It said it was rush run park, but I seen water. or something had been a lake or I don't know what it was.

[00:52:12]>> All right. Now, James goes into a little bit more detail. What happened to him?

[00:52:17]>> What happened to your son? Okay. First off, was James with you when all this happened?

[00:52:24]>> Your boyfriend. He was not.

[00:52:26]>> The the three kids.

[00:52:28]>> The three kids and you.

[00:52:29]>> Yeah. Well, you told me to go somewhere to >> to do what?

[00:52:34]>> To get rid of kids.

[00:52:35]>> To get rid of the kids. Okay. So the truth now is he didn't just slip and bang his head. Okay? Cuz you've done really good up till now. I need to know ex precisely how he died, how he passed away. So I know this is this is a hard part for you, okay? And I know that you're a mom and you know I know you have feelings for James, but you also you're a mom and you love your children.

[00:53:02]Okay? today. I'm sure it was one of the hardest things you I know it was the hardest thing you've ever you've done to one of your children.

[00:53:08]>> I've never seen my kids ever.

[00:53:10]>> I know. And you went down a wrong path here and you know that now. Okay.

[00:53:15]Specifically though, >> he was not with me.

[00:53:20]>> Okay.

[00:53:20]>> It was just me and the three kids cuz he said he needed a break or I need to do something with the kids.

[00:53:25]>> Okay. You were tired of hearing him or what?

[00:53:28]>> I I was tired listening to it.

[00:53:30]>> Okay. So, I just got up, grabbed my kids, cuz that's what I think of first is to grab my kids and go.

[00:53:40]>> Mhm.

[00:53:40]>> And he told me I can drive the van.

[00:53:43]Okay.

[00:53:43]>> Or whatever.

[00:53:44]>> So, he told you to take the van.

[00:53:46]>> Yeah. He told me whatever I wanted I wanted to drive, I can take it, >> right?

[00:53:49]>> Cuz I have my license. So, I took the van and it was going to the lake park, whatever it is.

[00:53:58]>> Have you ever been here before? You just >> What made you go there?

[00:54:05]>> Cuz it's kind of out of >> He has a friend Well, he used to. He no longer goes in his life and whatever. Got an argument.

[00:54:14]Um he has a friend named that lives somewhere out there.

[00:54:19]>> I don't know exactly where.

[00:54:21]>> Uh cuz every time we went down there, that's where he he drove. I don't I don't know nothing. I don't really drive.

[00:54:27]>> So, you were kind of familiar with that area from being up at their house?

[00:54:30]>> Yes. Kind of kind of not. I remember him stopping once to let one of the kids use the bathroom and his pory potty thing.

[00:54:39]>> Yes.

[00:54:40]>> And so that's why I stopped cuz they was like, I got to pee. I got to pee. And that's the only place I knew around there that had I knew for a fact had a little port >> cuz there was no gas. I couldn't remember no gas stations by nearby and I didn't want them to pee all over.

[00:54:58]>> Sure.

[00:54:58]>> So I stopped at the portter, let them each kid use the bathroom.

[00:55:05]>> So James went to go get in the van.

[00:55:11]Um well, James didn't want to get out of the van, >> right?

[00:55:15]>> I'm talking about the kid.

[00:55:16]>> Yeah.

[00:55:17]>> He didn't want to get out of the van and he was forcing me like, "You got to get rid of this [ __ ] kid. out of the house and I was like, "Dude, why should I have to get around my kids? Why can't you just go?"

[00:55:28]>> True. So, he wouldn't get out of the van and >> I told him cuz he was had to use the bathroom, too. Told him I wasn't going to leave him.

[00:55:37]>> Mhm.

[00:55:37]>> Well, I was thinking about leaving him. So I kind of like pulled off a little bit and James fell kind of down on his knees, got back, went to go get back up and then just dropped.

[00:55:55]>> Did you hit him with a van then?

[00:55:56]>> No, I didn't hit him with no van.

[00:55:59]>> Okay.

[00:56:00]>> I didn't run him over. I didn't do none of that.

[00:56:02]>> Okay. Um, so he hits the van. He had the the van's doors slide open.

[00:56:10]>> Mhm.

[00:56:10]>> So he had a handle of the van.

[00:56:13]>> So the doors open.

[00:56:14]>> No, they slide back. It's a minivan.

[00:56:17]They slide back. He had the handle >> of the van, the back door van on the driver's side.

[00:56:26]And when I went to go kind of pull off, he didn't have the handle in his hand. M >> it was [clears throat] kind of just like standing there. Not close close to the van, but just kind of standing there holding the van door trying to get back in.

[00:56:43]>> Well, that door out of that door is messed up, >> right?

[00:56:46]>> And it it don't want to unlock. It don't want to lock. So, um, I went to go pull off and James, as I was saying, he was I walked, he fell, tried to get back up and he fell and hit his head on the ground.

[00:57:05]>> And you were in the parking lot there.

[00:57:08]>> Yes. [snorts] If you I'm saying it's more if you go in the driveway. I don't remember how to get there. If we took you up that way, could you show us where >> where he was at?

[00:57:23]>> Yeah.

[00:57:23]>> Um Yeah. There's actually a little not a big big glob of blood, but there's like a this much blood.

[00:57:31]>> Mhm.

[00:57:32]>> Or maybe even more where his head had hit the concrete.

[00:57:36]>> Mhm.

[00:57:36]>> And um I rolled him over.

[00:57:42]>> Mhm.

[00:57:42]>> Kind of try to help him back.

[00:57:45]>> Mhm.

[00:57:46]>> See if I can get him to come back. Mhm.

[00:57:49]>> Well, >> did you know he was dead pretty soon though?

[00:57:52]>> At first, he was still breathing. Like I said, he took a couple like >> Where was he bleeding from?

[00:57:59]>> Right here on the right.

[00:58:02]Like he went to fall down.

[00:58:04]>> Was he breathing out of his ears or his mouth?

[00:58:07]>> Um, >> and if you don't remember, >> I don't He didn't have his mouth open.

[00:58:12]>> Okay. I know. He had his eyes kind of like, you know how you kind of like sleep with your eyes open like a tiny bit?

[00:58:19]>> That's how he had his eyes.

[00:58:21]>> Um, so he was like responding, but I guess couldn't talk.

[00:58:26]>> Sure.

[00:58:27]>> Um, but he was breathing heavy. I don't know how many I couldn't tell you how many breathing fast he was, but when I got when I was with him, he was breathing still. And I was doing my CPR that I've learned >> how to do. and try to bring him back and I I just I couldn't. So >> So after So I did it for like 5 minutes and I knew after 5 minutes there was no getting back.

[00:58:55]>> So what did you do then?

[00:58:57]>> Um I drove home.

[00:59:00]>> You picked him up, put him in the van.

[00:59:01]>> Yes.

[00:59:02]>> Okay.

[00:59:02]>> I just Well, I thought I just threw I can't do that to my kids.

[00:59:08]>> I don't want to just throw in there.

[00:59:10]>> Right. Right. with the >> I've never seen a dead body before or know how it looks, feels nothing. So, I just kind of like like a baby pick up his head and his legs >> and sit him in the the like the >> Have you been in the van yet?

[00:59:28]>> Mhm. I mean, I'm >> Well, it has the back seat, >> right?

[00:59:32]>> And you got that empty spot right here and the two front seats. Well, I had laid him nicely, softly. I didn't just throw him in there because that's that's just disrespectful >> and that's my blood child.

[00:59:46]>> Right.

[00:59:47]>> Um >> he you put him on the ground, you get back in the car.

[00:59:51]>> Mhm.

[00:59:52]>> And then he walks around the front of your car or the back of your car.

[00:59:55]>> My car was like this and the bathroom's literally right here.

[00:59:58]>> Sure. Okay.

[00:59:59]>> So he just like walks to the door.

[01:00:01]>> So you pulled in and your face is in the woods.

[01:00:05]>> No, it's the water.

[01:00:06]>> Okay.

[01:00:07]>> The woods is here. The water's here.

[01:00:10]>> All right.

[01:00:11]>> And then there's so >> the road to out that way.

[01:00:14]>> This is >> All right. I just had it. Where the hell was that? Here we go.

[01:00:23]>> It's called Russian Run Lake, I think.

[01:00:25]>> Yep. Go there all the time.

[01:00:28]>> So, right.

[01:00:30]>> Right here. Here's the water. Here's the road that you came in on. Okay.

[01:00:36]>> Okay. Where would you say the water was again? right here. That's water.

[01:00:40]>> Okay.

[01:00:41]>> So, there's usually the portaotties right there.

[01:00:46]That look familiar? Does it?

[01:00:48]>> Yeah. Kind of does. And is there like a driveway going this way?

[01:00:51]>> Yes. Yes. It actually goes this way.

[01:00:54]>> So, I was parked at the parking spot that they were there.

[01:00:59]>> So, did you pull into a spot?

[01:01:01]>> It was like down this way. Like those lines were kind of faded.

[01:01:04]>> Yeah. So, you parked kind of down this way. It was close to the bathroom, but not close enough.

[01:01:09]>> So you were So you were actually nosed in. You were pointing towards the water.

[01:01:15]So you got two kids over here.

[01:01:20]And then you've got James milling about.

[01:01:23]Let's say that you right there.

[01:01:25]>> Okay.

[01:01:26]>> And you got James milling about over here. Right.

[01:01:29]>> Mhm.

[01:01:30]>> Is that right?

[01:01:31]>> Yes. So, where was James whenever you backed up and pulled out little James?

[01:01:38]>> Well, I wasn't all the way into the parking spot. I was just like halfway there, not all the way there.

[01:01:44]>> Um, I went to just Well, I didn't even have to back up. I just went to go this way.

[01:01:50]>> So, you just went to loop around.

[01:01:53]>> Okay.

[01:01:53]>> And he was He didn't have a handle when I looked out my mirror. Mhm.

[01:01:58]>> When I went to go pull away, I'm guessing he had the handle, >> right?

[01:02:03]>> And um and then I went to go drive off and he of course >> sure >> had a handle. When I looked, he didn't have it. And uh and then he was >> So real quick, so here's the porta potty. There's the water. Here's the road coming in.

[01:02:28]>> Uhhuh.

[01:02:28]>> Let's say so your part kind of like that.

[01:02:35]>> Okay.

[01:02:36]>> Yeah. With my headlights this way.

[01:02:38]>> Towards the water. So you got >> all the way in the parking lot.

[01:02:42]>> Sure. So you got a little bit of room there.

[01:02:44]>> Yeah.

[01:02:44]>> So show me where James was whenever you put it in the drive.

[01:02:48]>> He was like right off of here like he's tall enough. He can reach over and grab the handle. But he wasn't touching the handle.

[01:02:56]>> No.

[01:02:57]>> So then which way did you pull out? Did you >> I just went like this.

[01:03:04]>> Okay.

[01:03:04]>> There was plenty enough room to do.

[01:03:06]>> Sure.

[01:03:06]>> So you pulled forward, looped around to the left. The other kids are where?

[01:03:12]>> By the stall.

[01:03:14]>> They're over by the big port. Yes.

[01:03:16]>> And then at what point did you see James on the ground?

[01:03:24]I want to say when I went to I heard kids screaming. I don't remember. I thought I was for sure. They both could have been screaming. I don't know.

[01:03:32]>> Why were they screaming? Because you were leaving them.

[01:03:35]>> Yes.

[01:03:35]>> Okay.

[01:03:36]>> Cuz they knew I wasn't nervous.

[01:03:39]>> Sure.

[01:03:40]>> So, um, they were standing by the bathroom stall, whatever it is, and James was kind of standing close to them, but not that close. And as I showed you on the paper, I just went around him and didn't realize he had the handle.

[01:03:57]>> Did you see him grabbing a handle?

[01:03:59]>> No.

[01:04:00]>> Okay. You're just >> But when I kind of like he I'm assuming he grabbed the handle cuz I kind of pulled him a little bit, not much. And he got up and then fell back down. I guess I kind of probably made him hurt his knee on the ground or something >> and he lost his balance. And Um, he tried to catch his balance. He didn't get to and he fell and busted his head on the ground.

[01:04:31]>> 6 years old. He was trying to get back into the van.

[01:04:36]>> Okay. By text or by by call?

[01:04:39]>> It was a text.

[01:04:40]>> You you sent him a text?

[01:04:41]>> Yes. And then he called me, told me to bring him back because he couldn't get James to listen.

[01:04:52]>> The river James was given to is at flood stage within days. Divers cannot enter until March 10th. On March 17th, sonar and a cadaavver dog flag the same stretch of water, and the county prosecutor announces a high degree of probability that a body has been located.

[01:05:11]It has not been recovered. James Hutchinson has never come home.

[01:05:17]On March 5th, 2021, a grand jury returns a 31count indictment against the two of them. By late August, both have plead guilty. Brittany on August 16th, Hamilton one week later. September 13th, 2021.

[01:05:34]At sentencing, the judge asks Britney twice if she has anything to say. She stands mute. She was sentenced to life with her first chance of parole in 21 years. Hamilton on October 5th gets 15 to 19. The judge reaches for one word for what was done to [music] James.

[01:05:56]Incomprehensible.

[01:05:58]>> Her search and recovery team have scoured the river and river banks ever since Middletown police said Gazny admitted to throwing him in there. There have been multiple searches, but efforts have been unsuccessful.

[01:06:09]>> Seemed like everything was working against us. You know, when this incident first happened, we had all of the issues with the weather and the rain. And >> they want nothing more than to find James. Campbell says due to lack of evidence.

[01:06:21]>> What is your plea?

[01:06:23]>> Guilty.

[01:06:24]>> Proceeding then to the charge in count 14 that >> the record in state of Ohio versus Britney Gazny.

[01:06:31]Case number CR 211030273.

[01:06:34]defendant is present in the courtroom along with her attorney, David Washington.

[01:06:38]>> After discussing uh uh potential uh resolutions and outcomes um and having conversations with the prosecutor, uh it was agreed that we would enter this plea. Uh therefore, we will withdraw that motion to suppress.

[01:06:53]You intend to enter guilty please to this charge of murder and unclassified a felony charge and two counts of endangering children each of which are thirdderee felonies.

[01:07:04]>> Yes in the prison term of years to life on the murder charges. I can also impose a uh prison sentence on you with respect to each of the charges in count 14 and 15 so that I can make a more intelligent and informed decision about why have you had a full and fair opportunity to discuss the uh nature of the charges lodged against you in the indictment you might have to any or all of those charges with your attorney Mr. confrontation. You understand that?

[01:07:33]>> Yes.

[01:07:33]>> And finally, Scott, you understand if you have a trial, you also have the office.

[01:07:37]>> Thank you, your honor.

[01:07:38]>> Thank you, Mr. Closer.

[01:07:47]>> Coerced her into getting rid of the children.

[01:07:49]>> I don't believe that. She never wanted them kids in the beginning. She really didn't.

[01:07:54]>> It's not all him. He's not a monster.

[01:07:57]He's really a good guy. He He did mess up. He's paying the price.

[01:08:03]>> After the hearing, the prosecutor took exception to that assertion.

[01:08:06]>> A monster named Hamilton who did monstrous things to little Jimmy. And when he threw his body in the Ohio River, that is the act of a calculated monster.

[01:08:22]At Rosa Parks Elementary, there is a bench now. It says, "In memory of James Hutchinson, a little boy who loved his school, his teachers, and his friends.

[01:08:33]The boy who hugged his teachers at the door never got a goodbye. His classmates gave him one anyway.

[01:08:41]Hey, thanks for watching. Did you know that 99.4% of people who watch my videos don't subscribe?"

[01:08:49]Now, I understand it's a new channel and maybe I'm probably doing some things wrong.

[01:08:55]I would really appreciate it if you could give your candid feedback in the comments. Please do subscribe too. May James rest in peace. And may those who truly loved him find some comfort that his memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew him. And even we strangers that tell and listen to his story today. Stay safe. See you in episode 4.