Man Raped Girl With Down Syndrome, Had Over 650,000 Child Porn Images

A 69-year-old Michigan man was charged on Wednesday for possessing child pornography and raping an 8-year-old girl with Down syndrome.

According to Fox 17, David Heinsen was in possession of over 650,000 images and 3,000 videos depicting the rape and torture of children. In 1989, he allegedly raped an 8-year-old neighbor with Down syndrome and took pictures of the incident.

“The victim has Down syndrome, possesses a limited vocabulary, so she was unable to describe the atrocities she suffered,” wrote Barry County Prosecutor Julie Nakfoor-Pratt in a statement, according to MLive.

Police had launched the investigation of Heinsen in July after pornography was discovered on a computer he frequently used, according to the Detroit Free Press. When authorities searched his home, they discovered the collection of child pornography, and arrested him on July 30. Family members also discovered undeveloped film allegedly showing him raping and torturing the girl with Down syndrome and turned it over to law enforcement.

His computer contained images of young children, including toddlers, being sexually abused and, in some cases, tortured. Investigators said that Heinsen targeted girls between the ages of 10 and 12.

Nashville Police Chief Chris Koster said it’s the worst case he’s seen in his 30 years of law enforcement, “considering the magnitude of evidence and the egregious nature of the images.” According to police, when they went to arrest Heinsen, he had a gun and was going to commit suicide, but police were able to bring him in without incident.

Koster said police are also contacting authorities in Sandusky, Ohio, where Heinsen used to live. They intend to inform Sandusky authorities of the case in order to determine if he had committed similar crimes there.

Heinsen was arraigned Wednesday on four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a maximum term of up to life in prison. He’s also charged with possession of child sexually abusive material, a four-year felony.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Grand Rapids also charged Heinsen with receiving and possessing five video files of child pornography between December, 2010, and January, 2011. He was indicted on those charges last week in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.

Because of the state statute of limitations, he cannot be charged with the torture of the girl with Down syndrome.

Federal marshals on Monday transported Heinsen from the Barry County Jail to Grand Rapids for arraignment on federal charges. A tentative trial date has been set for October 27. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.

Authorities are looking for the girl with Down syndrome and other victims, and anyone with information is urged to call the prosecutor’s office at 269-945-1297. As the family had left the area, the police were unable to find the girl with Down syndrome or her family.

[Image via Barry County Jail]