Oakley Carlson Re-release

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1:28This episode is brought to you by 20th Century Studios' new comedy, Ella McKay. From Academy Award-winning writer-director James L. Brooks, Emma Mackey plays Ella McKay, an idealistic young woman who juggles family and work in a story about the people you love and how to survive them. Featuring an all-star cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Loudon, Kumail Nanjiani, Iowa Debris, Julie Kaffner, with Albert Brooks and Woody Harrelson. Ella McKay, now playing.

2:00Voices for Justice is a podcast that uses adult language and discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics, including violence, abuse, and murder. This podcast may not be appropriate for younger audiences. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Some names have been changed or omitted per their request or for safety purposes. Listener discretion is advised. My name is Sarah Turney, and this is Voices for Justice.

2:33Today, I'm discussing the case of Oakley Carlson. Before Oakley Carlson turned one, she was taken out of the care of her biological parents, Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson, and placed with foster parents, Jamie Jo and Eric Hiles. They instantly fell in love with her, and over the next two years or so, they're overjoyed to care for her and watch her grow. This ear first steps, ear first words, and watch her develop into a happy, confident, well-adjusted toddler. The plan for Oakley from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, or DCYF, was adoption, presumably with Jamie, Joe, and Eric.

3:10But their dreams of legally becoming a family with Oakley were crushed when they were notified that the plan changed again, and Oakley would be returning to her biological parents at the end of 2019. After she was returned, there were several calls made to social services about Oakley, including a call from Andrew Carlson's own mother. But Oakley remained in her biological parents' care. Eventually, around the end of 2021, people began to notice that Oakley wasn't with the rest of her family. Due to some quick thinking by Oakley's sister school principal, she ultimately led authorities to uncover that there had been no verified sightings of Oakley for almost a year.

3:49When authorities questioned Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson, they shut down and became uncooperative. When they searched the family home that had recently been on fire for several hours, they find blood, but no Oakley. This is the case of Oakley Carlson. Oakley Carlson was born on December 6, 2016, to her parents Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers in Washington. But she wouldn't stay with them for very long. At some point in 2017, Andrew is decommissioned from his position as an officer with the Aberdeen Police Department for making a false and misleading statement. By July 2017, a teacher named Jamie Jo Hiles gets a call from a former student, asking if she would be interested in fostering Oakley.

4:34This former student knew Oakley's grandparents and thought Jamie Jo and her husband Eric would make excellent foster parents. In September 2017, Oakley is placed with Jamie Jo and Eric Hiles, just a few months shy of her first birthday. In an interview with the show Never Seen Again, Eric Hiles says that things went really well. It was basically like a dream. Jamie Jo says that Oakley was doing amazing. She was happy, confident, and could command a room. Oakley fit right in with the couple and their lifestyle. At just a year and a half old, Oakley loved practicing with Jamie Jo's dance club and would even do their stretches with them.

5:12Jamie Jo would later describe what Oakley is like on the Justice for Oakley website. Quote, Oakley is someone who did not know a stranger. She always had a smile on her face and she was kind. She loved to make people laugh. So when she knew how to make you smile, she would always remember that and try to do it again. She liked to tell jokes, and would often follow up a joke with waka waka, just like Fozzie Bear from The Muppets. For being almost three years old, she was incredibly smart. She spoke in almost complete sentences, demonstrated empathy, and questioned things that did not make sense to her.

5:46My favorite example of this is when she first watched the movie WALL-E, and Oakley realized that WALL-E was lonely and did not have friends. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she asked why he did not have any friends. She then rejoiced when Eva showed up later in the movie, and suddenly Wally was not lonely anymore. Oakley loved to dance, and it was quite frequent that we would have dance parties in the living room for her to groove to. She admired my dance team, and would always ask for me to play their songs from practice, so that she too could dance like them. I bet you we have played Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys at least a thousand times.

6:23Oakley also loved to read and be read to. It was never just one book at bedtime, but at least four or sometimes five. It was not uncommon to find her asleep in her bed with books as well, or all around her in the morning. Lastly, Oakley loved to show you that she loved you. I have countless photos of her hugging my family and friends, and she always made sure to tell you that she loved you. She loved to hug, snuggle, and just touch you. Many times we'd be on the couch together, her little foot would be touching my side, just because she wanted to be touching me. Her love radiated out of her, and she always let it show.

7:01Oakley was the biggest blessing to my husband, our families, and our friends. Many times Eric and I would ask each other how we got so lucky with having her, because she was so happy all of the time. It was just an all-around good kid. When you see the photos of Oakley, that's genuinely how she was with us all the time. Just happy, polite, and loved. It seems very clear that Jamie, Joe, and Eric loved Oakley to pieces, and seemed to provide her with an incredible environment to blossom. Now, when a child is in the foster care system, those handling the child's case are responsible for checking in on them, and for creating long-term plans for them to be placed into and hopefully remain in a stable environment.

7:44Basically, the big question comes down to, should the plan for this child be reunification with their biological parents, or for them to be adopted by another party? Well, by July 2018, court documents show that the plan for Oakley was to be adopted. It's not always a given that those fostering the child or children will be the family that ends up adopting them. But given how much Jamie Jo and Eric love Oakley, I have no doubt that they were going to fight to be the family that adopted her. It's not exactly clear why the plan for Oakley changed to adoption at this point, but it's worth mentioning that this same month, Oakley's biological father, Andrew Carlson, was arrested for assault after allegedly attacking Oakley's biological mother, Jordan Bowers.

8:28He is asked to participate in a domestic violence treatment program, so Jamie Jo and Eric continue caring for Oakley, under the assumption that they would adopt her as soon as they were legally able to. But despite the adoption plan, Oakley continues having supervised visits with her biological parents. In March 2019, Oakley returns to the Isles after a two-hour supervised visit with Carlson and Bowers, and they notice that her diaper hasn't been changed, and she has some concerning scratches on her cheek and chest. There is a picture of these scratches posted on a website created by Light the Way Missing Persons Advocacy, justiceforoakley.wixsite.com.

9:07They have been working alongside Jamie, Joe, and Eric to fight for Oakley. The scratches didn't draw blood, but they are definitely cause for concern in my opinion. In the picture, it looks like she has about five scratches on the right side of her face. There is no picture of the scratches on her chest posted. But considering this was a two-hour long supervised visit, Jamie, Joe, and Eric understandably asked the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, or DCYF, visit supervisor what happened. Basically, they say they don't know and move on. On May 13th, 2019, the domestic violence treatment program that Andrew Carlson was enrolled in writes to DCYF, informing them that he has failed to comply with the program and has been discharged.

9:52At this time, the prosecuting attorney asks for Andrew to be found guilty for the assault. Over the summer, there is no resolution to this. But in a very strange turn of events, at the end of September, Jamie, Joe, and Eric are told that the plan for Oakley is no longer adoption, but reunification with her biological parents, and they're told that they're going to increase the number of visits with them. Jamie, Joe, and Eric are crushed. They're also extremely concerned. In October, they meet with DCYF, but they're basically told Oakley isn't your daughter, and when they raise concerns about neither of Oakley's biological parents having jobs to care for her, They were told that being poor isn't a reason for someone to not have their children.

10:35On October 19th, Oakley has her first unsupervised visit with Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers, and quickly, Jamie Jo and Eric see a lot of cause for concern. After a visit on the 29th, Oakley tells them that she saw Bowers hit Carlson. So, Jamie Jo and Eric report this to DCYF. They're told that Oakley loves her parents. She would even tell them she loved them without being prompted. On November 6, 2019, Jamie Jo emails Oakley's social worker to again express concerns about the possibility of domestic violence in the house, and that she thinks the reunification plan is moving too quickly. DCYF informs them that Oakley is actually going to be reunified with them even sooner than expected, now at the end of the month.

11:21Three days later, Oakley has her first overnight visit with Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson, just weeks before they were to take custody of her again. And things seem to be going in their favor, because on the 13th, the assault charges against Andrew Carlson are dropped. Jamie Jo and Eric email DCYF again on November 17th, saying this is all moving way too fast, but they never receive an answer. In a heartbreaking interview with Never Seen Again, Jamie Jo explains that they just kept crying and counting down the time they had left with Oakley. Only one day left Only four hours left Only 30 minutes until we have to give her back They knew Bowers and Carlson would never let them see her After Oakley was gone, they closed the door to her room and couldn't bring themselves to look at it again for over six months This episode of Voices for Justice is sponsored by Chewy When I think about the holidays, I think about tiny moments with my dogs The ones that really make the season bright And that's why I'm joining Chewy Claws, who's out here making pet wishes come true.

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13:04But I also just picked up Heber and Popcorn's holiday gifts. And honestly, this program makes me even more sure of my choice to use Chewy. Not only do they have everything that my dogs need, but it feels great to know that they're helping other pets as well. Every pet deserves a wish come true. Send your pet's wish to Chewy.com slash Chewy Claws and it might become a reality. Plus, your wish means Chewy will donate five meals to pets in need.

13:36Meet the computer you can talk to. With Copilot on Windows, working, creating, and collaborating is as easy as talking. Got writer's block? Share your screen with Copilot Vision to help spark inspiration. and use Copilot Voice to have a conversation and brainstorm ideas. Or maybe you need some tech help. With Copilot Vision, Copilot sees what you see. Let Copilot talk you through step-by-step guidance so you can master new apps, games, and skills faster. Try now at windows.com slash copilot. On June 3rd, 2020, Oakley's dependency matter was closed. Out of respect for Oakley's siblings' privacy, I'm keeping information about them to a minimum in this episode.

14:15But it's important to note that Oakley wasn't alone in the home with Bowers and Carlson. She has a younger brother, an older sister, and an older brother that appears to have split time between living with Oakley and his mother Jordan Bowers and his biological father. All kids were under the age of 10 at this time. Now, we don't have the DCYF file for Oakley, and it seems that some of the information we have comes from another child's case and another agency, CPS. So it's hard to say exactly what was going on in her home during this time. But we do have some snippets of happenings reported by the Justice for Oakley website, alongside some official documents.

14:54So here's what we know. By the end of June, the same month Oakley's dependency matter was closed, Jordan Bowers had to provide some documentation for a custody hearing not related to Oakley. She's ordered to undergo a UA, or a urine analysis, basically a drug test. and Jordan makes a statement to the social worker to the effect that she knows how to pass a UA. She also states that both she and Andrew Carlson have completed court-ordered services related to domestic violence. While discussing Jordan Bauer's domestic violence assessment, it's revealed that she had two. Basically, the first one said, yes, she did need services, but apparently she had a second assessment where she was not honest, resulting in a recommendation that no services are needed.

15:39In addition to that, CPS expressed concerns that Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers were not adequately caring for one of their disabled children. Specifically, that they did not attend an appointment made at a hospital for the child, despite being given a gas card to do so. Now, a whole lot of nothing comes from all this. Basically, everything is just being logged, and it seems no action was deemed necessary by DCYF or CPS. Though it's hard to say how often, if at all, DCYF and CPS were communicating about Oakley and her siblings. On Christmas 2020, Oakley visits with her paternal grandparents.

16:18Her grandmother later reports to Children's Services that Oakley didn't look well. She says that she was pale, had dark circles under her eyes, and had scratches or sores on her face. She never hears back about the report. But this upset Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson enough to cut his parents off. They never see Oakley again. And the reports just keep rolling in. On January 26, 2021, Jamie Jo calls DCYF after she sees a picture of Oakley with what looks like a black eye from December. Jamie Jo also informs them that she heard that Andrew Carlson had been fired from his job for drug use. Ultimately, DCYF tells Jamie Jo very sternly that since she didn't see anything she's talking about firsthand, they have to assume the information is false.

17:06And on top of that, they say that she should be careful because she could get in trouble for making false reports. Now, Jamie Jo doesn't back down. She's like, listen, I'm a teacher, a mandated reporter, and I'm concerned. Now, they don't really give any answers to Jamie Jo, but the next day, a DCYF caseworker does go visit Oakley. We don't have information about this visit, but we know that Oakley wasn't removed from her biological parents' care. On February 10th, Oakley is seen again by either social services or a family friend. Reports differ. Then, on March 24th, 2021, Jamie Jo gets a phone call that makes her stomach drop.

17:47It's DCYF. They want to know if she's seen Oakley or her sister. They don't explain why. Jamie Jo says she hasn't. By the end of March, the complaint is closed without anyone seeing Oakley. Fast forward a few months to November 6, 2021. Just before 5pm, Andrew Carlson calls 911 to say that his daughter, referring to Oakley, lit their couch on fire with a cigarette lighter. He says there is no emergency now. It took a few hours, but he and Jordan Bowers battled the fire themselves and put it out. He just wanted to call and report the fire for insurance purposes. Now, this entire fire situation is just extremely odd.

18:29The family does live on a huge 300-acre property, and they say that they apparently couldn't find their cell phones to call 911 to help put out the fire. So instead of maybe running to a neighbor's house, they decide to battle the fire themselves for hours. Then, once the fire is put out, they miraculously find their cell phones to report the fire. Now, there are pictures of the charred house, so we know that there was apparently some type of fire that seemed to burn through a lot of the home. But, in the end, fire investigators determined that the fire did not start on the couch as reported, but likely in the microwave on the kitchen counter.

19:06On November 10th, the principal of Oakville Elementary, Jessica Swift, visits the home to bring supplies after the fire. I think it's worth noting that Jessica set this up in advance with Jordan Bowers, so it's not as if this was a surprise visit. Jessica stays for about 45 minutes. In that time, she notices that Oakley's siblings are there, but not Oakley. Swift later told News 8, quote, I saw all the other kids running around and playing, and I didn't see Oakley, and I thought that was a little odd. I asked where she was, and they told me that she was in her room in timeout. A week later on the 17th, someone starts to go fund me for Bowers and Carlson, titled, quote, Help the Carlsons recover from a house fire.

19:47They end up raising$2 ,325 before it closes. Now, when Jamie Jo and Eric see this, they're obviously concerned about Oakley's living conditions, so they contact their social worker, but they never hear back. On November 24th, the school principal, Jessica Swift, visits the home again to drop off more supplies. This time, she only stays for about five minutes. Again, she sees Oakley's siblings, but not Oakley. Not long after this, Jessica Swift is in a meeting with the teachers at her school, when one of them raises concerns about what's happening at Oakley's home. In the end, Jessica Swift decides to dig deeper, and she plans a playdate for the next day between her daughter and Oakley's sister to see if she can learn more about what's going on at the home.

20:32Swift told 8 News, quote, On a playdate with my daughter and Oakley's sister, I asked questions about Oakley, and it came out over the course of those questions that Oakley wasn't living with them anymore. I can't describe the feeling I had at that moment, sitting on the couch with that little girl when she said that. On Never Seen Again, Swift elaborated, saying that Oakley's sister was discussing how her brother always follows her around. Swift asks if he does that with Oakley too, and her sister says, quote, there is no Oakley, and Oakley is no more. When Swift presses her, asking what she means, she curls into a ball in the corner of the couch and starts shaking.

21:15Now, the playdate basically became a sleepover after Oakley's sister asked to stay the night. The next morning, Sunday, December 5th, 2021, Swift tries to ask about Oakley again. Oakley's sister says that Oakley was so bad she went to go live with her former foster parents. At this point, Swift calls the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office to confirm Oakley's placement, and they say that Oakley is not in the foster care system. At this point, obviously Jessica Swift is beyond concerned and confused. She wants to call for a welfare check on Oakley, but she doesn't want to give Oakley's sister back to Bowers and Carlson.

21:52So she calls Jordan Bowers and tells her that the girls are having such a great time together that she would love if Oakley's sister could stay another night. She says she'll just take both girls with her to school on Monday morning. Jordan Bowers agrees. On Monday the 6th, Oakley's fifth birthday, Swift takes the girls to school and calls for a welfare check, and officers immediately realize that something is very wrong. Close your eyes, exhale, Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class.

22:30I got them delivered free from 1-800-CONTACTS. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-CONTACTS.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-CONTACTS. this episode is brought to you by nba on prime this tuesday at 8 30 eastern it's the emirates nba cup championship game on prime this year's quest for the cup has been building to this the championship game live from las vegas not a prime member sign up for a 30-day free trial to get started today the emirates nba cup championship game this tuesday at 8 30 eastern only on prime restrictions apply see amazon.com slash amazon prime for details By December 6, 2021, Oakley Carlson's fifth birthday, her biological parents have moved the family into a hotel after being displaced from their home by a house fire.

23:27This falls under the jurisdiction of the Tumwater Police Department. They arrive at the motel at 10 a.m. Oakley is not with the family. Andrew Carlson tells them Oakley's with his parents in Oakville, but when officers ask for their phone number or address, he isn't able to provide them with either. Officers do eventually get in contact with Andrew's father, who says he hasn't seen Oakley since December 2020, when he and his wife express concerns about her welfare to social services. When officers tell Andrew that Oakley is not with his parents, apparently he does not act surprised. At this point, basically Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers stop answering questions.

24:06But about 10 minutes after officers leave, Andrew Carlson calls the police to report Oakley missing. He says they haven't seen Oakley since November 30th, 2021, just under a week ago. And we don't know which one, but either Carlson or Bauer's factory resets their phone. While all of this is happening, Jamie Jo and Eric Hiles get a phone call from DCYF, letting them know that it appears that Oakley's missing. They ask the couple if they'll take Oakley and her younger brother when Oakley is found. At this point, DCYF doesn't really stress the urgency of the situation. They basically say they think Oakley is probably just with a family member, or possibly with her biological parents as they avoid the police and having their children taken from them again.

24:51Jamie, Joe, and Eric don't skip a beat. They say of course they'll take them, and start making preparations to do so. Meanwhile, investigators are busy trying to obtain a search warrant for the Bowers-Carlson home. After they get the green light to search the home, they discover some pretty discouraging evidence. They see that there seem to be clothes, toys, and separate living spaces for all of the children except for Oakley. It's also been highlighted that when investigators spoke with Bowers and Carlson, they discovered that the family vehicle only had one car seat in it, despite presumably having three children age six and under.

25:27In the state of Washington, there are car seat laws. Oakley and her siblings were, by law, required to be in a booster seat until they reached four feet nine inches tall. In relation to the single car seat, Chief Schrader from the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office said, quote, So that right there, that's a clue that something's wrong. But it gets worse. They also find blood on the blinds and the front door, and some type of handprint in the hallway downstairs. They try to question Jordan Bowers again, but she apparently becomes uncooperative. Andrew Carlson also stays pretty quiet, but made statements, quote, to the effect of Oakley being dead or not coming back for a reunion.

26:10According to the Justice for Oakley website, at 5.10pm, Jordan Bowers is booked into the Grays Harbor County Jail for allegedly obstructing law enforcement and on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter. At 9.30pm, Andrew Carlson is arrested, facing the same charges, obstruction of justice, and suspicion of first-degree manslaughter. From here, law enforcement only has 72 hours to charge them or let them go, so they get busy looking for any evidence related to Oakley. On Tuesday, December 7th, Jamie Jo is shopping at Target when she gets the news from a friend that Bowers and Carlson are being held on manslaughter charges.