Father charged with neglect after toddler found dead in river

Father charged with neglect after toddler found dead in river

Posted by
1 min read
October 31, 2025

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.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version