Featured Cases
Oakley Carlson
Oakley Carlson is a 7-year-old little girl from Oakville, Washington, whose last known credible sighting was on February 10, 2021. Sadly, Oakley was not discovered missing until ten-months later on December 6, 2021. In the month prior, there had been a fire at the family home and a school principal became concerned about Oakley’s safety after not seeing her when bringing the family donated supplies. After refusing to cooperate, Oakley’s biological parents, Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson were then taken into custody and refused to give any credible information about Oakley’s whereabouts.
Bowers and Carlson were initially charged with manslaughter in the first degree, however, the charges were later dismissed when there was not enough evidence to move forward. They were then charged and convicted of two counts of endangerment with a controlled substance for exposing Oakley’s siblings to methamphetamine. On March 14, 2022, Carlson pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment. He was sentenced to the maximum twelve-months in jail but was released on August 3, 2022 after serving less than eight-months. On April 22, 2022, Bowers pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment and was sentenced to twenty-months in prison. Bowers was released from prison on January 15, 2023 but was immediately taken into custody and booked on three counts of identity theft in the 1st degree and one count of identity theft in the second degree in a case unrelated to Oakley. In July 2023, she took a plea deal for the identity theft charges and was sentenced to forty-three months in prison. Although neither of these cases are related to Oakley, Bowers and Carlson remain suspects in her disappearance and refuse to cooperate with law enforcement.
Oakley spent from age 7-months to almost 3-years-old in foster care with her loving foster parents Jamie Jo and Erik Hiles. They provided a safe and happy home where Oakley thrived. The Hiles, along with community members, raised concerns about her safety to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (WA DCYF) many times while in their care and even after Oakley was returned to her biological parents. The Hiles feel their concerns were not taken seriously and were ignored by social worker Angela Fries and her supervisor Kathryn Eddy. They are seeking answers for Oakley.
According to police reports and court documents, while in Bowers' and Carlson's care, Oakley was starved, physically abused, and was locked in a cell as a form of punishment for “bad” behavior. Court documents state that from 2013 to 2021 WA DCYF received eleven intake phone calls about the Bowers/Carlson family regarding domestic violence, physical abuse, parental drug use, and medical neglect. Only eight of those calls were screened in and investigated. In January 2021, WA DCYF received a call that Oakley had scratches and bruising on her face. WA DCYF opened an investigation but both Bowers and Carlson refused to cooperate yet Oakley remained in their care. In November 2021, WA DCYF received three separate calls in two days about the family. Specifically, there had been a fire at the family home, Bowers and Carlson did not call emergency services and the family continued to reside in the home despite an insurance agent advising them it was unsafe to do so. These three calls were screened out and ignored.
Oakley was taken from a safe and loving foster home and left in a home with child abuse, drug use, and what ultimately ended in a devastating story of a missing child. Until Oakley is found and brought home to the people who love her, we will continue to seek justice for Oakley.
There is currently a $100,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Oakley Carlson.
In lieu of the reward not being claimed or extended, the funds would then be used at the discretion of Jamie Jo and Erik Hiles. Examples include: service and headstone if necessary, college fund, scholarship in Oakley’s name, trust fund for Oakley’s siblings, etc.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department at 360-533-8765.
Click here to visit the Official Oakley Carlson Website.
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Update:
As of March 28, 2024 there is now a $100,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Oakley Carlson. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department at 360-533-8765. Thank you to everyone who has donated and/or participated in raising funds for the Oakley Carlson Reward Fund which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit registered in Washington state. This could not have been possible without you!
In lieu of the reward not being claimed or extended, the funds would then be used at the discretion of Jamie Jo and Erik Hiles. Examples include: service and headstone if necessary, college fund, scholarship in Oakley’s name, trust fund for Oakley’s siblings, etc. Reward expires on Dec 06, 2024.