Statements made by Jordan Bowers to a corrections deputy at the Grays Harbor County Jail about her 6-year-old daughter’s medication can be used as evidence in trial, a Grays Harbor County judge ruled on Friday.
Bowers is the biological mother of missing Oakville 5-year-old Oakley Carlson. She and Oakley’s biological father, Andrew Carlson, both remain suspects in Oakley’s disappearance but do not face charges related to Oakley.
Bowers and Carlson were initially arrested on suspicion of manslaughter on Dec. 6. After the couple was booked into the jail, Oakley’s sister’s temporary foster parents asked law enforcement about a medication prescribed to the 6-year-old, and Corrections Deputy Lee Saline asked Bowers where the 6-year-old’s medication was.
Bowers reportedly told Saline the 6-year-old was not on any medication, according to court documents.
Bowers and Carlson were charged on Dec. 7 with second-degree abandonment of a dependent person and accused of failing to provide prescribed medication to the 6-year-old for approximately 15 months.
Bower’s hearing on Friday was to determine whether the statement she made in response to Saline’s question could be used in Bowers’ upcoming trial.
Her attorney, Michael Nagle, argued Friday that Saline's question could be considered interrogative — which, under state law, would mean it couldn’t be used in trial.
“It’s not a routine booking question,” he said during his argument.
After hearing testimony from Saline and the Grays Harbor County detective who had initially requested Saline ask Bowers about the 6-year-old’s medication, Judge David Edwards ruled that the question was not interrogative and thus would be admissible as evidence in trial.
Edwards said he had “overwhelming evidence” that Saline did not know his question would “illicit an incriminating response” from Bowers.
There will be a second hearing on April 4 to formally enter in Bowers’ statement as evidence.
Her four-day jury trial is scheduled to begin on April 19. In addition to the second-degree abandonment of a dependent person charge, Bowers faces two counts of endangerment with a controlled substance for allegedly exposing her 6-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son to methamphetamine.
Carlson pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment with a controlled substance on March 14 and has a sentencing hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, March 28. His initial second-degree abandonment of a dependent person charge has been dismissed.
Bowers has been presented with the same plea deal that Carlson accepted but is “not inclined to take it,” according to Prosecuting Attorney Jason Walker.
Timeline of Oakley’s Disappearance and Her Biological Parents’ Court Case
• November 2019: Oakley leaves the care of her foster parents and returns to her biological parents, Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers..
• Feb. 10, 2021: The last time detectives with the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office can confirm Oakley was seen alive.
• Nov. 6, 2021: A fire was reported at the Carlson’s residence in Oakville just before 5 p.m. Carlson told dispatchers his 4-year-old (Oakley’s age at the time) had lit the couch on fire with a cigarette lighter and said he had put the fire out himself. Investigators later determined the fire most likely started in the microwave on the kitchen counter — not from the couch, as Carlson had claimed.
• Nov. 30, 2021: The date Oakley’s parents claim they last saw Oakley.
• Dec. 5, 2021: Oakville Elementary School Principal Jessica Swift contacts the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office with concerns about Oakley’s safety.
• Dec. 6, 2021:
Approximately 10 a.m.: An officer with the Tumwater Police Department initiates a welfare check for Oakley and interviews Oakley’s parents in their hotel room.
3:31 p.m.: An officer confirmed Bowers and Carlson left the hotel with their 2-year-old and returned to their Oakville residence.
5:10 p.m.: Bowers is booked into the Grays Harbor County Jail for allegedly obstructing an officer and on suspicion of manslaughter.
9:30 p.m.: Carlson is booked into the Grays Harbor County Jail on suspicion of manslaughter.
• Dec. 7, 2021: Oakley’s sister’s temporary foster parents ask law enforcement about a medication prescribed to the 6-year-old, and law enforcement learn Bowers and Carlson had not been giving the child the medication.
• Dec. 9, 2021: The 72-hour hold on suspicion of manslaughter expires, and that case is closed. Bowers and Carlson are charged with second-degree abandonment of a dependent person for allegedly neglecting to give their 6-year-old daughter prescribed medication for approximately 15 months.
• Dec. 10, 2021: The Department of Children, Youth and Families takes hair follicle samples from Oakley’s 6-year-old sister and 2-year-old brother to submit for analysis. The tests eventually reveal substantial amounts of methamphetamine in both hair follicle samples, indicating the children were exposed to the drug within the last three months.
• Dec. 13, 2021: Detectives complete their search of the Carlson family’s house and surrounding property.
• Dec. 30, 2021: Bowers and Carlson appear in Grays Harbor County Superior Court for the first time. Demonstrators gather outside the courthouse demanding answers about Oakley.
• Jan. 10, 2022: Bowers and Carlson both plead not guilty to second-degree abandonment of a dependent child. Trial dates are set for April 2022.
• Jan. 20, 2022: Deputy Prosecutor Jason Walker submits a motion in Grays Harbor County Superior Court to file amended information adding two counts of endangerment with a controlled substance to Bowers’ and Carlson’s cases, citing results from the hair follicle tests that show methamphetamine in both hair samples.
• Jan. 28, 2022: The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office submits new evidence to the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor’s Office. Based on this evidence, Walker alleges Bowers and Carlson exposed the 6-year-old and 2-year-old to methamphetamine as early as July 1, 2021.
• Jan. 29, 2022: Demonstrators hold a rally outside the Grays Harbor County Jail demanding answers about Oakley.
• Jan. 31, 2022: Bowers and Carlson appear in Grays Harbor County Superior Court for omnibus hearings. The judge schedules a hearing for Feb. 7 to add two new charges to both Bowers’ and Carlson’s cases based on the new evidence from the sheriff’s office.
• Feb. 7, 2022: Bowers and Carlson each plead not guilty to two counts of endangerment with a controlled substance.
• Feb. 22, 2022: Bowers and Carlson appear in Grays Harbor County Superior Court for omnibus hearings. A 3.5 suppression hearing to determine whether statements of guilt made by Bowers can be used as evidence in trial is scheduled.
• March 14, 2022: Bowers and Carlson appear in Grays Harbor County Superior Court for trial readiness hearings. Carlson pleads guilty to two counts of endangerment with a controlled substance.
• March 25, 2022: Bowers appears in Grays Harbor County Superior Court for a 3.5 suppression hearing. A judge rules that statements made by Bowers to a corrections officer can be used in trial.
