January 17, 2022
Carlson, Oakley
Oakley Carlson, a five-year-old girl from Oakville, Washington, has gone missing. Her extended family hasn’t seen her in over a year.
Oakley was taken from her original parents’ custody when she was a newborn, and according to some reports, she was roughly 7 months old when she was placed in foster care in August 2017.
Erik and Jamie Jo Hiles are a couple. Oakley’s foster mother told KING 5 that the 5-year-old had “many red flags” while in their care.
Oakley was with the Hiles family until October of this year. The authorities contacted them and informed them that Oakley would be returned to her biological parents’ custody.
In November of this year, she was restored to Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers’ custody.
According to Jamie Hiles, the decision to send Oakley back was “hurried” and dangerous.
“They made a blunder,” Jamie explained. “I made a huge blunder.” If something happens to her, I informed them in my final letter that it will be on their shoulders.”
One of Oakley’s final verified sightings was in December 2020, around the holidays. This data comes from King 5 –
Oakley spends Christmas with her family at her grandparents’ house. Oakley’s grandma told police that Oakley “didn’t look well” throughout the investigation. Oakley’s grandma told detectives she had black circles under her eyes, thin skin, and scrapes or sores on her face, according to court filings.
After meeting Oakley, Oakley’s grandma contacted Child Protective Services (CPS), but she never heard “anything about it after that time.”
Oakley’s grandma notifying CPS about Oakley “created big waves among the family,” according to court filings, and Oakley’s parents have not spoken to or visited the grandparents since then.
Oakley’s latest known sighting was on February 10, 2021. ‘Someone familiar with the family’ supposedly saw her. It appears to be a little hazy. Oakley has not been seen since January 27, when he was last known to be alive.
Andrew Carlson, Oakley’s biological father, called dispatch shortly before 5 p.m. on November 6, 2021, to report a fire in their home earlier that day.
He told dispatchers that his daughter lit the couch on fire with a cigarette lighter and that he put the fire out himself. He stated that a response was not required, but that he still wanted to report the fire.
According to court filings, Jordan (the bio mother) told people that Oakley set the fire and that she and her husband “battled the flames for nearly four hours.”
Fire investigators eventually confirmed that the house was on fire, but that the fire was started by the microwave on the kitchen counter.
On November 10, Oakville Elementary School Principal Jessica Swift paid a visit to Oakley’s home. After the fire, she took the family’s belongings. She claims she stayed in the residence for around 45 minutes and was informed Oakley was in her room, but she never saw him.
On November 24, Jessica returned to the house with fresh supplies. Oakley’s three siblings were seen, but not Oakley himself. During this visit, she only stayed for around 5 minutes.
For a playdate/sleepover, one of Oakley’s siblings travelled to Jessica’s house. Jessica inquired about Oakley, to which the youngster said, “Oakley was no more.”
When Jessica inquired further, the sister stated that Oakley had returned to her previous foster parents. This was not the case, according to deputies.
The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office received a call from the school principal, Jessica Swift, on December 6, 2021, requesting a wellness check on Oakley.
Following the November fire, the family had been staying in a motel.
Except for Oakley, police proceeded to the hotel and located the rest of the family.
Oakley was with his parents, according to Andrew (bio dad), but he did not know his father’s phone number or the address of his father’s home.
When authorities questioned Andrew’s father, he stated that he had not seen Oakley since December 2020.
When the police informed Andrew that Oakley was not with his parents, he did not appear startled, according to the officers.
Jordan became uncooperative as police attempted to question her. She returned to her hotel room, refusing to answer any further inquiries.
Andrew called the police after the officers had left the hotel to report Oakley missing. He didn’t appear to realize, however, that after leaving the hotel, officers went straight to the burned-out house. They were in possession of a search warrant.
Toys and clothing for all of the children except Oakley were discovered during a search of the family’s residence. A handprint was discovered on the wall in the downstairs hallway, as well as blood on the blinds and the front door.
The FBI was involved in the search almost immediately. Detectives from the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol troopers, and the FBI were seen searching the area surrounding the family’s 300-acre property.
Bowers and Carlson were apprehended and charged with manslaughter. After fresh information regarding the parents withholding possibly lifesaving medication from their other 6-year-old daughter, prosecutors charged the two with the Abandonment of a Dependent Person in the Second Degree on Thursday, December 10.
They have not been charged with anything in connection with Oakley’s disappearance,
but officials believe it was a criminal act. They’re being jailed on $150,000 bail until their next court date on December 30th. Officers will have more time to investigate Oakley’s disappearance.
Officers have been investigating a 300-acre farm and have issued an appeal for anyone who may have spotted Oakley after January 27, 2021.
When authorities interviewed Oakley’s siblings, they learned some shocking truths. Jordan “hitting Oakley with a belt,” “placing her in a closet, probably beneath a stairway,” and was concerned about her starvation, according to Oakley’s elder siblings. Jordan also instructed the 6-year-old “not to talk about Oakley” and that she had “gone out into the woods and been eaten by wolves,” according to the report.
Oakley was the subject of the following statement from investigators:
‘The parents allege Oakley was last seen alive on November 30th. Oakley’s parents have made no indication that she is being cared for by an adult, and they are unable to account for her location or condition. Oakley, according to investigators, “would not be able to exist on her own for this long.”
Oakley’s grandparents (who police claim have been completely cooperative) published the following statement on December 15:
“The Carlson family has cooperated fully with this investigation and continues to do so.” Our sole goal is to locate Oakley, our granddaughter. We’re hoping Oakley is found soon, as well as the many fine people who are working around the clock to make that happen. We ask that the media respect our privacy during this difficult time, and we have no more statements to make at this time. “Thank you very much.”
Jordan and Andrew were in court on December 30 for allegedly failing to provide Oakley’s 6-year-old sibling with medication for 15 months, which was required for the child’s health.
Judge Katherine Svoboda of Grays Harbor County Superior Court determined probable cause for both Bowers and Carlson to be charged with one count of desertion of a dependent person in the second degree. The bail amount was set at $150,000.
The public hearing on December 30 drew about a hundred people. The crowd chanted “Kids Don’t Just Disappear,” “Make Them Talk,” and “We Love Oakley” in addition to Oakley’s name.
Jordan and Andrew have been charged with the following offences:
For allegedly failing to provide their 6-year-old daughter with a prescribed prescription for nearly 15 months, they were charged with second-degree desertion of a dependent person, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
They were previously charged with manslaughter, but the accusations were dropped, and they will no longer be in court.
Andrew and Jordan’s trial date was set for April 19 on December 10.
Both defendants entered not guilty pleas. Their cases have been combined, and they will be tried together over the course of four days.
When questioned if four days would be enough time to finish the trial, Judge Dave Edwards stated, “at this point, that is my best guess.”
“I’m not sure the trial can be completed in that time frame,” Edwards responded, “but we can make adjustments as we get closer to the trial date, and counsel will have a good image of the breadth of the trial and the number of witnesses who will be testifying.”
On Jan. 31, an omnibus hearing will be held at 9 a.m. to assess the state of the case and discuss what evidence will be needed for trial.
Jordan allegedly pleaded not guilty because she couldn’t afford to pay for her daughter’s medication.
“That is a situation that occurred because her health insurance carrier refused to pay for it (the medication), saying it was experimental or something,” Bowers’ lawyer Michael Nagle said during Bowers’ arraignment hearing in Grays Harbor County Superior Court on Dec. 10 while arguing for Bowers’ release on her own recognizance. Nagle added, “She spent a lot of time trying to get that (insurance) decision reversed.” “This is a matter that has been discussed in Dependency Court for months, and I don’t understand why it would justify throwing her in jail so quickly.”
If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I would walk in my garden forever. pic.twitter.com/EmjQ5cTW6k
— Jamie Jo Hiles (@jamiejo2005) March 22, 2021
