Mesa man and woman suspected of victimizing
13-year-old girl.
On January 16,
2008 the Mesa Police Department responded to the
area of 1600 N. Fraser to investigate an alleged
child molestation involving a 13-year-old
female victim.
A witness told
police that her 13-year-old daughter had found
various pornographic photos depicting the witness’s
fiancé later identified as 43-year-old
William Riedel of Mesa molesting a 13-year-old girl
known to the witness’s daughter.
Investigators
obtained a search warrant to review the photographic
evidence on the hard drive of the computer.
Investigators discovered photos on the
computer that did in fact depict Riedel in the act
of molesting the victim. Other photos on the hard
drive of the
computer depicted the victim’s 55-year-old mother in
the act of sexually abusing her own daughter. The
victim appeared to be incoherent or under the
influence of a drug or narcotic in the photographs.
Investigators believe that the crimes occurred from
January to March
of 2006, which would have made the victim 11 or 12
years old at the time. Numerous other child
pornography photos were discovered on the
computer hard drive in addition to those already
mentioned.
During
post-Miranda interviews both suspects admitted to
molesting and sexually abusing the victim. The
suspects disclosed the fact that they used sleeping
pills to drug the victim prior to committing the
crime. The victim’s mother admitted to providing the
sleeping pills to her daughter under the
false pretense that it was allergy medication.
Riedel was
previously employed as the director of a family
counseling service. Investigators are concerned that
there may be other victims due to the fact that
Riedel had contact with other children. Alleged
victims are asked to contact the Mesa Police
Department at 480-644-2211.
Riedel was
booked on suspicion of Sexual Conduct with a Minor
and Molestation of a Child. The victim’s mother was
booked on suspicion of Sexual Exploitation of
a Minor, Sexual Abuse and Child Abuse. Riedel is
being held at the Maricopa County Jail on a no-bond
status. The victim’s mother is being held on a
$108,000 dollar bond. The victim is currently in CPS
custody.
(Photo of William Riedel)
