Lincoln County, OR. — Nearly eight months after the tragic drowning of 2-year-old Dane Paulsen in the Siletz River, a Lincoln County grand jury has indicted the boy’s father, Aaron Scott Paulsen, on a charge of second-degree child neglect.
The charge stems from the March 1, 2025 incident when Dane was reported missing from the family’s yard, which directly backs up to the Siletz River in the small coastal town of Siletz. According to court records, Paulsen is accused of leaving his son unattended that afternoon.
Search crews, including law enforcement, professional teams, and community volunteers, scoured the rugged riverbanks and nearby forest for over a week. On March 11, 2025, search efforts came to a heartbreaking conclusion when diver Juan Heredia of the Angels Recovery Dive Team located Dane’s body about three miles downstream from the family’s property.
In an official release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office that day, authorities confirmed the discovery, describing the search as one of the most extensive and emotionally taxing efforts in recent memory. Sheriff Adam Shanks expressed deep condolences to the Paulsen family and gratitude to the many people who joined in the search.
“Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow,” Sheriff Shanks said. “We are deeply grateful for the support and dedication shown by the search teams and our communities throughout this difficult time, though we wish it was under different circumstances.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation continued in coordination with the Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s Office and that all standard protocols were followed before determining next steps.
Following months of review, the grand jury issued its indictment on October 16, 2025, charging Aaron Paulsen with second-degree child neglect. A warrant for his arrest was filed a week later, on October 23, with bail set at $20,000. Paulsen is scheduled to appear in Lincoln County Circuit Court on November 3, 2025.
The case has drawn widespread sympathy and sorrow across Lincoln County, where community members came together in March to aid the family’s search and later to mourn Dane’s death.
Authorities continue to emphasize compassion and respect for the Paulsen family as legal proceedings move forward.
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