The father of a Lincoln County toddler whose disappearance triggered a massive search earlier this year has been charged with child neglect in connection with the boy’s drowning. Two-year-old Dane Paulsen was reported missing in early March after he was last seen playing in the front yard of his family’s home along Highway 229 in the small town of Siletz.
His disappearance prompted an extensive search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, community volunteers, and even the FBI. At the time, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office released a description of a vehicle of interest, but investigators later located and ruled out the vehicle’s involvement. Search efforts soon centered on the nearby Siletz River and surrounding forested areas, continuing day and night for more than a week.
Ten days after Dane vanished, an independent diver discovered his body roughly three miles downstream from the family’s home. Authorities concluded the toddler had wandered to the riverbank and drowned. Investigators said there was no evidence of foul play, as per KATU.
Months later, court documents revealed that Dane’s father, 40-year-old Aaron Paulsen, had been charged with second-degree child neglect in connection with his son’s death. The charge accuses Paulsen of “unlawfully and with criminal negligence” leaving his son unattended in circumstances likely to endanger the child’s health or safety.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office released a statement acknowledging the emotional toll the case took on both the community and first responders. “In March 2025, the disappearance and later recovery of Dane Paulsen in the Siletz River shook our communities, first responders, and searchers.
As responders and community members, our hearts remain heavy with this tragedy,” the agency said. The statement added that, following the completion of the investigation, the case and all evidence were submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
On October 16, a Lincoln County grand jury handed down the indictment, and a circuit court judge issued an arrest warrant a week later, setting Paulsen’s bail at $20,000. Sheriff’s deputies cited and released him, and he is scheduled to be arraigned on November 3.
Dane’s mother has spoken publicly in defense of her partner, telling KGW News that the family does not believe the charge is justified. “We’re not negligent parents,” she said, insisting that the child’s death was a heartbreaking accident.
The case continues to resonate deeply across Lincoln County, where community members who helped search for Dane say they are still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.