Background: News footage of the river where Dane Paulsen”s body was found in March (KPTV). Inset: Dane Paulsen (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office).
In a tragic case that has gripped the Oregon community, Aaron Scott Paulsen is now facing charges of child neglect following the unfortunate death of his 2-year-old son, Dane. The toddler’s disappearance from their family home and subsequent discovery in a river has led to an indictment that has sparked both legal and emotional repercussions.
Dane Paulsen was last seen alive on March 1 in the backyard of his home. After an extensive search that mobilized community resources, his lifeless body was tragically found by a volunteer diver on March 11, two miles from where he was last seen. The coroner’s report later confirmed that the cause of death was drowning, a heartbreaking revelation for the family and community.
The implications of this discovery led a grand jury to indict Aaron Paulsen on October 16, charging him with second-degree child neglect. According to court documents acquired by Fox affiliate KPTV, the charge hinges on accusations that Paulsen failed to adequately supervise his young son, allowing the tragic incident to occur.
Local news outlet KATU reports that the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office elaborated on the indictment, stating Paulsen had “custody or control” of Dane and negligently left him unattended, in a situation that endangered the child’s welfare. This legal perspective has added another layer of complexity to the family’s grief and search for answers.
Amid these developments, Dane’s mother, Cha Met Jackson, has voiced her concerns over the handling of the case. In her conversation with KPTV, she expressed disagreement with the DA’s conclusions, suggesting that the drowning might not have been a mere accident. Jackson recounted the last moments she saw her son, noting his playful demeanor and the sudden, eerie silence that followed.
Jackson vividly remembers the moments leading up to Dane’s disappearance, describing how he exited the house, playfully babbling as he approached his grandfather’s trailer. Her account paints a picture of a typical day suddenly turned tragic, leaving a family seeking both justice and closure.
According to KPTV, Jackson said that she told police there was purportedly an unidentified man watching her and Dane from a distance. She also said she saw another man taking photos of trail cameras about two weeks before Dane went missing.
Now, Dane’s own father faces charges in connection with his son’s death while Jackson believes others should have been investigated. A warrant for Paulsen’s arrest was issued on Oct. 23 with bail set at $20,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 3.
