Investigators confirmed they are actively consulting with the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor about the possibility of charging a no-body homicide.
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Oakley Carlson's former foster mom shocked by court declaring missing child dead
Jamie Jo Hiles, Oakley’s former foster mom who lives in Grays Harbor County, told KING 5 she learned of the court’s decision only after seeing it in an online court record.
“Oakley was declared deceased in Pacific County, and that came as a complete shock to us,” Hiles said. “Just because, why Pacific County? And also like, on what basis?”
Court records show an attorney for Oakley’s siblings filed the motion to declare her dead. The filing does not state a reason for the request, but Hiles suspects the decision was financially motivated.
“This was very much ... secret, shady,” said Hiles.
Hiles said in May earlier this year, the siblings' attorney asked her to help declare Oakley deceased so her siblings could inherit her estate. She declined.
“No, I’m not interested in that, because we are working on the criminal case,” Hiles said.
She added that while she wishes peace and stability for Oakley’s siblings, she believes the way the declaration was handled was insensitive.
“Doing something like this behind closed doors, without involving those who truly loved Oakley, is not advocacy,” she said. “It feels like opportunism.”
An attorney for the guardian ad litem for Oakley Carlson's siblings issued a statement Monday, explaining why they sought to have Oakley declared dead:
"As counsel for Oakley and her surviving siblings, we made the difficult decision to have Oakley declared deceased, given the evidence we have reviewed thus far and the passage of time since she was reported missing. We made this decision in consultation and with the support of Oakley’s biological family.
"We want to clarify that the request to legally declare Oakley Carlson deceased also serves the purpose of obtaining critical records and information necessary to fulfill the obligations of Oakley’s Guardian to investigate and assess the physical abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse experienced by Oakley and her siblings while under the care and custody of the State of Washington."
The spokesperson said the step was "not taken lightly" and does not reflect any conclusions or facts regarding ongoing law enforcement investigations into Oakley's whereabouts. The death declaration will allow access to certain sealed records, medical documentation and other information pertinent to ongoing court proceedings involving Oakley's siblings. The spokesperson clarified that the declaration was made in open court, not a decision made behind closed doors.
