Siletz, Oregon — New court documents have shed disturbing light on the circumstances surrounding the death of 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, who vanished from his family’s rural property along the Siletz River on March 1, 2025, and was found drowned 10 days later. His father, Aaron Paulsen, faces child neglect charges in connection with the tragedy.

According to affidavits and filings obtained by local media outlets including KATU and KPTV, Aaron Paulsen told investigators he was “binge-watching” a television show on his phone inside the family home when he allegedly watched his young son walk out the back sliding glass door alone. Dane’s mother, Cha Met Jackson, had reportedly informed Paulsen that she was leaving the immediate area to clean a 5th-wheel trailer on the property and that he was responsible for supervising the toddler.

Jackson later told law enforcement she heard her son knocking on the trailer door and thought, “oh sh*t, the baby’s out,” but did not open the door or immediately check on him, instead continuing to clean inside. Prosecutors allege Dane was left unattended for approximately 15 minutes before his parents realized he was missing.

A toddler footprint was later discovered at the river’s edge near the home, along with a toy Dane had been playing with shortly before disappearing. Both parents were reportedly aware that Dane loved water, had no fear of it, and could not swim. The family’s property sits roughly 150 feet from a river access point.

After an extensive 11-day search involving hundreds of volunteers, drones, canines, boats, and dive teams, Dane’s body was recovered by an independent diver approximately three miles downstream on March 11, 2025. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as drowning, with no suspicious injuries noted.

The case has revealed a pattern of prior concerns about supervision. Court documents reference earlier incidents, including a neighbor’s report of the family’s older daughter being left unsupervised outside for 30-60 minutes as a toddler. In September 2024, a teenager found Dane standing alone on Highway 229 wearing only a diaper and sweater and returned him home.

A Lincoln County grand jury indicted Aaron Paulsen in October 2025 on one count of second-degree child neglect. He has pleaded not guilty. A trial date was previously set, with prosecutors planning to call up to 20 witnesses. The state has also sought to introduce evidence of the prior unsupervised incidents at trial.

The tragedy prompted a massive community response in the small coastal town, with volunteers and agencies like the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and others conducting ground, water, and aerial searches in challenging conditions, including cold river waters around 44-46 degrees Fahrenheit.

This story, first highlighted in outlets like the New York Post, underscores ongoing concerns about child safety near waterways and parental supervision. As the legal proceedings continue, the case serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young children in rural settings.

Dane Paulsen’s death remains a profound loss for his family and the tight-knit Siletz community that rallied to search for him.