Search crews have entered the Ohio River in the search for James Hutchinson, the 6-year-old boy whose mother confessed to killing him last month.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, James’ mother Britney Gosney first reported her son missing on February 28, but later that same day told police that she had killed James earlier in the weekend after she brought the boy and his two half-siblings to a wildlife park in Preble County, with the intention of abandoning them. According to the account Gosney provided police, James clung to the door of the car as she drove away from a parking lot, and was dragged and possibly run over.
Gosney told police that she brought her son’s body back to her Middletown home and kept it in a spare bedroom. Early the next morning, she and her boyfriend James Hamilton allegedly drove James’ body to the Indiana side of the Ohio River and tossed his body into the water.
Recovery attempts have been significantly limited by high water levels and dangerous conditions. The last known search of the river perimeter took place on Sunday, with no sign of the boy. As recently as Wednesday morning, investigators appeared to be unclear when a river search could resume, according to the Journal-News. But WHIO reported Wednesday afternoon that divers had entered the Ohio River in Lawrenceville, Indiana.
Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson confirmed the river search in an email to CrimeOnline Wednesday afternoon.
“I can confirm that the Hamilton County Police Association Dive Team is on the river. This is the first day that the team has been able to get on the river, continuing our search for James.”
The sheriff did not address a question about what, if anything beyond favorable search conditions, prompted divers to enter the river on Wednesday for the first time.
This is a developing story. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
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