Five-year-old Olivia R. Doane died on March 8, 2023, at her home on Douglas Road in Ferndale, Washington, from a fentanyl overdose. Her parents, Melissa Ann Welch and Michael Wayne Doane, along with Welch's boyfriend Cody Curtis Craig, were all present in the home the night the child died. The child was described as happy and healthy on the evening of March 7 and went to bed around 8 p.m., leading investigators to believe she consumed fentanyl sometime during the night. When police arrived the next morning after Welch called 911, they found the child dead in her bed with foam coming from her mouth. The home was found to contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, methadone, and drug paraphernalia in multiple locations accessible to the 5-year-old victim and her 8-year-old sibling, including fentanyl powder on the garage floor just three feet from children's stickers, Nerf darts, and jellybeans. Autopsy toxicology confirmed a very high level of fentanyl caused the child's death. All three adults were charged with first-degree murder with an aggravating factor of the child's particular vulnerability. After the child's death, Welch and Craig were observed continuing to sell narcotics, and the surviving sibling was placed with other family members by Child Protective Services.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
All three documents detail the child's death from fentanyl ingestion/overdose. The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states: "Autopsy toxicology results from a blood sample taken from the girl showed 'a very high level' of fentanyl was in the child's system, which was found to be the cause of the child's death." The Northern Light (Document 2) states investigators found the child "with foam coming from her mouth, which indicated a possible drug overdose."
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states that police believed "the child consumed fentanyl sometime during the night" and that "drug paraphernalia... and suspected narcotics in multiple locations around the home in areas commonly occupied by Welch, Doane and Craig" were found, with "items that tested positive for fentanyl" found "in areas accessible to both the 5-year-old and 8-year-old." KOMO News (Document 1) quotes the prosecutor: "by using, selling and leaving fentanyl in a place where his daughter, a 5-year-old girl, could locate and ingest it." The child accessed lethal drugs during the night while adults were present in the home, indicating a failure to adequately supervise the child's environment.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Michael Wayne Doane is the biological father and was charged with first-degree murder. The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states: "Welch and Doane are the child's parents" and "Welch and Doane had previously been in a relationship and still both reside at the Douglas Road home. The 5-year-old was their biological daughter." KOMO News (Document 1) quotes the prosecutor: "Mr. Doane has demonstrated an extreme indifference to human life by using, selling and leaving fentanyl in a place where his daughter, a 5-year-old girl, could locate and ingest it." He also "had a bag of fentanyl in his bedroom."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Melissa Ann Welch is the biological mother and was charged with first-degree murder. The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states: "Welch and Doane are the child's parents." She was at the home and called 911 per KOMO News (Document 1): "the mother called 911 to say her 5-year-old daughter was dead." She was also witnessed selling narcotics after the child's death.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Cody Curtis Craig, the mother's boyfriend, was at the home and was charged with first-degree murder. The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states: "Craig is Welch's boyfriend." The Northern Light (Document 2) confirms: "Craig was Welch's boyfriend. The three adults were at the home the night of the child's death and are suspected of using drugs within the residence." Craig was also observed selling narcotics with Welch after the child's death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
All three adults were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states: "Prosecuting attorneys charged Melissa Ann Welch, 35, of Ferndale, Cody Curtis Craig, 32, of Bellingham and Michael Wayne Doane, 33, of Ferndale with one count each of first-degree murder." The Northern Light (Document 2) states: "Ferndale police officers arrested Melissa Ann Welch, 35, Cody Curtis Craig, 32, and Michael Wayne Doane, 33, for first-degree murder on April 13."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Multiple documents confirm that all three adults were using and selling drugs. The Northern Light (Document 2) states: "The three adults were at the home the night of the child's death and are suspected of using drugs within the residence." The Bellingham Herald (Document 3) states: "Ferndale police suspected drugs were being consumed inside the residence by Welch, Doane and Craig while the 5-year-old girl was there." Drug paraphernalia including "a butane lighter and foils" used in fentanyl consumption were found throughout the home. Welch and Craig were also observed selling narcotics after the child's death.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, the Bellingham Herald (Document 3) reports that charging documents and arrest warrants were sealed for a week between filing (April 7) and arrest (April 13) "in order to prevent a threat to public safety and cooperating individuals, and the 'premature end' to an ongoing investigation." Second, there is a federal investigation into drug sales by Welch and Craig, as noted by KOMO News (Document 1): "Richey said there is a federal investigation underway into those drug sales." Third, the murder charges include the aggravating factor that the defendants "knew or should have known that the child was particularly vulnerable" (Document 3). Fourth, after the child's death and before their arrest, Welch and Craig continued to sell narcotics, leaving the surviving 8-year-old sibling in ongoing danger. Fifth, there were significant difficulties in securing legal representation for Craig because of conflicts of interest, with co-defendants requiring attorneys from outside the public defender's office.
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