A Washington man is facing charges after authorities allege he is the proprietor of an illegally manufactured treehouse containing pornographic images of children that they discovered in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
For several years an urban legend type rumor has been making the rounds by hikers of the area about an unorthodox cabin nestled in the woods of the Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington.
A curious Department of Natural Resources worker decided he was going to try to uncover the existence of the rumored structure. He began his search and after half a dozen attempts he came across an ornate cabin nestled in a tree in November 2016.
The structure was likened to a small fairytale house with glass windows and a porch wrapping around the building.
When the exploring employee entered the cabin he reportedly saw framed pictures of nude young girls decorating the walls and found an envelope with more illicit photographs of children. It also appeared that the dwelling was furnished with a bed and basic supplies.
When the employee returned from his excursion he reported what he had seen and had brought some of the pictures that were hanging on the walls with him to show the authorities. A King’s County Sheriff’s Office detective accompanied the man back to the site of the treehouse and the FBI began an investigation shortly after.
In April 2017 the FBI visited the treehouse and took a few items from the interior for DNA testing since they had not discovered anything that might help identify the suspect connected to the scene.
Within the week a Search and Rescue worker spoke with the investigators and said he had been to the site more than once and noticed that an SUV was often parked nearby. The worker provided the detectives with the license plate number which offered them a possible lead.
The SUV owner was identified as 56-year-old Daniel Wood of Mill Creek, and investigators began surveillance of his condominium. Wood had a motorcycle parked in the driveway and DNA samples were taken from its handlebars, and a disposable cup that he had thrown away was collected. The lab allegedly matched the DNA off of the motorcycle, cup, and items tested from the cabin to Wood and the authorities believed they had enough evidence to charge him.
When FBI agents searched Wood’s home in Mill Creek they reportedly discovered large amounts of erotic digital photographs of girls between the ages of 8 and 12, and pictures of the cabin.
Wood was charged with two counts of child pornography possession and has been ordered to have absolutely no contact with any minors, according to court records. His arraignment is scheduled for March 26.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sex crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.