A25-20691 - Child Sexual Assault Material Investigation And Arrest (Photo)
- 09/17/25
PRESS RELEASE
A25-20691 – CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT MATERIAL (CSAM) ARREST
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
On August 28, 2025, Cowlitz County Detectives received multiple referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reporting incidents related to the trafficking of Child Sexual Assault Material (CSAM).
The information came from social media sites, which reported multiple images with hash matches to known CSAM being sent and received by accounts linked to a Longview, Washington resident. Hash matching is a digital process where a unique "hash" is generated for a digital file using a hash function. This hash is then compared against a database of known hashes. Hash matching confirmed these files were identical to content previously identified as CSAM.
Detectives used search warrants and subpoenas to confirm the association of these accounts to 49-year-old Jeremy Peter Williams of Longview. On September 16, 2025, detectives contacted and arrested Williams and served a search warrant on his residence. Phones, computers, and digital storage devices were seized for further examination.
Williams was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on charges of Dealing in Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct.
Williams is currently employed as the Principal at the Rainier, Oregon Junior/Senior High School. There is no evidence indicating that any students in that school district were involved. The Rainier School District has confirmed that Williams was on paid administrative leave at the time of his arrest for an unrelated issue.
A25-20691 - Child Sexual Assault Material Investigation And Arrest (Photo)
- 09/17/25
PRESS RELEASE
A25-20691 – CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT MATERIAL (CSAM) ARREST
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
On August 28, 2025, Cowlitz County Detectives received multiple referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reporting incidents related to the trafficking of Child Sexual Assault Material (CSAM).
The information came from social media sites, which reported multiple images with hash matches to known CSAM being sent and received by accounts linked to a Longview, Washington resident. Hash matching is a digital process where a unique "hash" is generated for a digital file using a hash function. This hash is then compared against a database of known hashes. Hash matching confirmed these files were identical to content previously identified as CSAM.
Detectives used search warrants and subpoenas to confirm the association of these accounts to 49-year-old Jeremy Peter Williams of Longview. On September 16, 2025, detectives contacted and arrested Williams and served a search warrant on his residence. Phones, computers, and digital storage devices were seized for further examination.
Williams was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on charges of Dealing in Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct.
Williams is currently employed as the Principal at the Rainier, Oregon Junior/Senior High School. There is no evidence indicating that any students in that school district were involved. The Rainier School District has confirmed that Williams was on paid administrative leave at the time of his arrest for an unrelated issue.
A21-951 Death Investigation - Remains Identified (Photo)
- 09/04/25
PRESS RELEASE
A21-951 DEATH INVESTIGATION – REMAINS IDENTIFIED
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
On April 26, 2021, tree planters contracted by Weyerhaeuser located a human skull on the 7292 Rd near Lake Merrill in Cougar, WA. Detectives from the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office recovered the skull. A visual analysis showed what appeared to be two entrance and two exit bullet holes. The skull was turned over to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for analysis and identification. On May 15, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office organized a search of the area with Cowlitz County Search and Rescue. With the aid of cadaver dogs, a femur was located.
The King County Medical Examiners Office analyzed the skull and confirmed the bullet holes. The skull and femur were sent to Bode Technology for DNA analysis. Bode was able to determine that the skull and femur belonged to the same individual. They ran the DNA profile through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and did not find a match.
The remains were then sent to Othram Inc., a private laboratory that specializes in genome sequencing. Othram is able to compare the DNA sample of the remains to available DNA samples to identify possible relatives of the unidentified subject to help in the identification process.
Othram located a potential family member of the subject and through research found that they had a missing relative. Detective Jason Hammer of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office contacted this family member and gained access to their DNA sample that they had done through a private genealogy company. This sample was sent to Othram who confirmed the sibling relationship with the remains.
The skeletal remains have been positively identified as belonging to Anthony Matthew Croy, born 12/04/1973. Croy went missing from the Portland, OR area around September 1995.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death is ongoing. The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office requests anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Jason Hammer at 360-577-3092.
Information on Othram’s process can be found at DNASolves.com.
A21-951 Death Investigation - Remains Identified (Photo)
- 09/04/25
PRESS RELEASE
A21-951 DEATH INVESTIGATION – REMAINS IDENTIFIED
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
On April 26, 2021, tree planters contracted by Weyerhaeuser located a human skull on the 7292 Rd near Lake Merrill in Cougar, WA. Detectives from the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office recovered the skull. A visual analysis showed what appeared to be two entrance and two exit bullet holes. The skull was turned over to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for analysis and identification. On May 15, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office organized a search of the area with Cowlitz County Search and Rescue. With the aid of cadaver dogs, a femur was located.
The King County Medical Examiners Office analyzed the skull and confirmed the bullet holes. The skull and femur were sent to Bode Technology for DNA analysis. Bode was able to determine that the skull and femur belonged to the same individual. They ran the DNA profile through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and did not find a match.
The remains were then sent to Othram Inc., a private laboratory that specializes in genome sequencing. Othram is able to compare the DNA sample of the remains to available DNA samples to identify possible relatives of the unidentified subject to help in the identification process.
Othram located a potential family member of the subject and through research found that they had a missing relative. Detective Jason Hammer of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office contacted this family member and gained access to their DNA sample that they had done through a private genealogy company. This sample was sent to Othram who confirmed the sibling relationship with the remains.
The skeletal remains have been positively identified as belonging to Anthony Matthew Croy, born 12/04/1973. Croy went missing from the Portland, OR area around September 1995.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death is ongoing. The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office requests anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Jason Hammer at 360-577-3092.
Information on Othram’s process can be found at DNASolves.com.