Siletz, OR – Aaron Scott Paulsen has been indicted on charges of second-degree child neglect related to the death of his two-year-old son. Dane Paulsen was found dead in a river two miles from their home days after going missing.
Dane was last seen in the family’s backyard on March 1. His body was discovered on March 11 by a diver during a community-led search.
Court documents allege that Paulsen failed to supervise his son, leading to the child’s disappearance. The Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office reported that Paulsen was responsible for Dane’s care and that his actions were criminally negligent.
Cha Met Jackson, Dane’s mother, expressed disagreement with the investigation’s outcome and indicated that she believes the drowning was more than a mere accident. She recounted that she last saw Dane shortly before he went missing.
Jackson told local news station KPTV that she heard Dane laughing before the silence set in. She also mentioned seeing unfamiliar individuals in the vicinity before his disappearance.
A warrant for Paulsen’s arrest was issued on October 23, with bail set at $20,000. He is expected to be arraigned on November 3.