The father of an Oregon toddler found dead in the Siletz River after an 11-day search earlier this year has been charged with a misdemeanor neglect charge.
Court documents say that Aaron Paulsen had “custody or control of Dane Paulsen, did unlawfully and with criminal negligence leave Dane Paulsen, a child under the age of ten years, unattended in or at a place, for such period of time as was likely to endanger the health or welfare of said child,” KATU reported.
Two-year-old Dane Paulsen was reported missing on March 1, as CrimeOnline reported. He was last seen playing in his front yard. Authorities launched an immediate and extensive search for the boy and eventually found his body about three miles downstream from his home on March 11.
An autopsy determined that he drowned, KATU said.
The station spoke with Aaron Paulsen this week, but he declined comment. Dane’s mother, Chamet Jackson, said that Paulsen had just arrived at home when the boy disappeared.
Jackson told KPTV she had questions about the investigation and believes there’s more to the story. She recalled the day Dane went missing, saying she had gone to check on her father in a backyard trailer when she heard the boy come looking for her. But by the time she got back outside, Dane was gone.
“I’ve asked so many times throughout this entire time and they’ve all pretty much been like, I’m reaching or I’m crazy, or you’re some hysterical mother who lives on Siletz reservation. Some native kid. He doesn’t matter to them,” Jackson said.
“I just want justice for my son and answers for Dane,” she said. “He deserves that.”
Aaron Paulsen is set to be arraigned on the misdemeanor charge on Monday.
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[Featured image: Dane Paulsen/Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office]
