Investigators say a Yelm couple discussed abducting a child and came to Milwaukee while planning.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A Washington state couple accused of plotting to kidnap a child traveled to Milwaukee this year while discussing a target family, according to court documents and charging records released in Pierce County. Both suspects, arrested Nov. 13, remain jailed as the case moves forward.
Prosecutors in Washington state say the pair, identified in court records as Hailey Rose Davidson and William James Moore II, both 28, face attempted kidnapping and related child-exploitation counts after a digital trail and a search warrant turned up handwritten plans and other evidence. The Milwaukee reference matters because investigators say interstate travel shows planning beyond online talk. Authorities in both states are now comparing timelines, devices and messages to determine whether any crimes occurred in Wisconsin and whether more charges are likely.
Detectives say the investigation began when a CyberTip flagged the upload of child sexual abuse images to a shared Google account in 2024 and 2025. That tip led Pierce County Internet Crimes Against Children detectives to a Yelm residence, where a Nov. 13 search turned up notebooks describing how to grab a child, prescription sedatives not prescribed to the suspects, and a hidden compartment with illegal material, according to charging paperwork. The same records say the couple discussed a Wisconsin family and that Moore had fixated on them. “It was only a matter of time before a child was victimized,” one detective wrote in a probable-cause summary, noting the alleged surveillance trip to Milwaukee earlier this year. Davidson and Moore were arrested hours apart that morning in Yelm and Parkland and booked into the Pierce County Jail.
Court filings outline a mix of online and in-person steps. Investigators say the couple exchanged detailed messages about luring a child, referenced scouting locations, and possessed maps, disposable gloves and restraints. The records specify that they traveled to Milwaukee and referenced streets and neighborhoods there. No abduction occurred, and authorities have not identified the Wisconsin family publicly. Each defendant’s bail is set at $2.5 million as digital forensics continue on seized phones, laptops and cloud accounts. Officials in Milwaukee said they are aware of the Washington case and are reviewing any potential local exposure based on the travel details, but no Wisconsin charges have been filed.
Yelm is a small city southeast of Tacoma. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office says its ICAC unit has seen an increase in referrals built from tech-company tips that trigger multi-state investigations. In this case, the mix of alleged plans, sedatives and a concealed storage space persuaded prosecutors to add attempted kidnapping to exploitation counts. Records note Davidson and Moore previously discussed targeting families in general and that Moore “obsessed” over one family he claimed to have tracked online. Wisconsin has seen high-profile child-safety cases in recent years, which has kept attention on interstate offenders and cooperation between police and prosecutors across jurisdictions.
Both defendants made initial appearances the week of Nov. 17 in Pierce County Superior Court. A judge kept bail at $2.5 million each and ordered no contact with minors. Prosecutors said additional counts could be added after forensic reports. The next hearings are expected in early December, when the court will address counsel and scheduling. If Wisconsin authorities later determine state crimes occurred there, a referral could lead to separate filings; for now, Washington’s case controls the timeline.
Neighbors in Yelm told reporters they saw unmarked vehicles near the residence the morning of the search. In Milwaukee, a few residents said they were relieved to learn no child was taken locally. “Knowing they actually came here is chilling,” said a woman who lives on the city’s south side and asked not to be named to protect her family. Outside the Pierce County courthouse, a child-safety advocate said the episode shows how quickly online plans can become travel and surveillance. “The line between talk and action was vanishing,” the advocate said.
As of Monday, both defendants remained in the Pierce County Jail. Detectives are waiting on full forensic reports and communications records, with the next court status hearing expected the first week of December. Milwaukee officials say they will announce any local findings after they review the out-of-state travel notes.
Author note: Last updated November 24, 2025.