Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office

PRESS RELEASE

Whittier Case Reviewed

On May 20, 2008 Ms. Melody Schmitt and her spokesman David Craig met with Sheriff Wendell Hall in reference to reviewing the investigation on the accidental drowning of her son Joshua Whittier on February 18, 2007 . His drowning was determined to be accidental by three different investigating agencies, namely the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office, Medical Examiner's Office, and the 1 st Judicial State Attorney's Office. Each agency conducted a separate investigation. Ms. Schmitt and Craig met with the sheriff in his office to request that he investigate new details that are to be provided by Craig in a written statement. Sheriff Hall stated that, "out of concern for this grieving mother we are willing to answer any questions, within our ability to do so, in order to help her bring closure to the loss of her son." The sheriff's office is yet to receive any information from Ms. Schmitt or Craig but a detective will be assigned to the request immediately upon receipt.

Marc Ward

SRSO Assistant Public Information Officer

Office 983-1234 or cell 232-2596