Oakley Carlson.Photo: Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office
The parents of a missing 5-year-old girl in Washington state have been jailed on suspicion of manslaughter as authorities continue their search for the child.
“Detectives consider the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance as suspicious,” the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office said in anews release.
“You can’t see a little girl like Oakley and not be emotionally involved in the case,” said Undersheriff Brad Johansson, reportsKOMO.
“We’re really concerned for her safety and her well-being and we just don’t know what that is at this point,” he said. “We are definitely hoping and praying for the best outcome, but realistically we’re ready and fearing the worst as well.”
Oakley Carlson.Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office
Deputies initially detained the parents as “persons of interest” and held them at the Grays Harbor County jail on suspicion of obstructing a law enforcement officer for allegedly refusing to cooperate with investigators, reports KOMO.
Deputies said the parents did not know the child’s whereabouts and also could not provide any reasonable explanation for where she might be, according to the outlet.
Jordan Bowers, at left, and Andrew Carlson.Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office
As questions grew to include suspicion of manslaughter, a judge set bail for the couple at $150,000, citing the severity of the allegations.
“Based on the unusual circumstances of the missing child, not knowing her whereabouts and no one has seen her in several days and no one knows her condition, we felt that is in the best interest of the case,” Johansson said.
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The judge set Friday as a deadline for authorities to produce additional evidence before actual charges could be considered against the couple.
“Until we can get a lot of those questions answered, we don’t have those answers ourselves,” Johansson said, reports KOMO.
Neither Bowers nor Carlson has been given the opportunity to enter a plea, and no attorney was identified who might speak on their behalf.
The sheriff’s office asked that anyone with information about the missing girl dial 911, call 360-533-8765 or email sodetectives@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.
source: people.com
