Freedom from behind bars will have to wait longer for Grays Harbor resident Jordan Bowers, the biological mother of missing six-year-old Oakley Carlson.
Bowers, who had been serving her sentence for child endangerment involving two of her children, other than Oakley, since April 22, 2022, was released from the Washington Corrections Center for Women on Sunday, Jan. 15.
However, that release was short-lived as Bowers was immediately arrested for identity theft and fraud by Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office detectives and subsequently booked into Grays Harbor County Jail. Arrest warrants had been issued for three counts of first-degree identity theft (a class B felony) and one count of second-degree identity theft (a class C felony).
“These charges stem from complaints from multiple victims who experienced fraudulent banking activity,” said Brad Johansson, the undersheriff for the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office. “After the investigation was completed, Jordan Bowers was identified as the primary suspect.”
While the identity of the victims who Bowers attempted to steal from is unknown, a bail amount of $25,000 has been set for each of the four total counts, according to the Grays Harbor County Jail registry.
Bowers, alongside Andrew Carlson, Oakley’s biological father, have garnered vast public notoriety due to their missing daughter. They claimed they last saw Oakley on Nov. 30, 2021, despite the last confirmed sighting of her alive was nine months prior on Feb. 10, 2021. They have not cooperated with the investigation into Oakley’s disappearance or with law enforcement efforts to find her.
“I’m just super grateful for the work that the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office has been doing continually searching for Oakley and justice for her. I’m also grateful to those victims who came forward to report their identity theft because Jordan and Andrew both need to stay behind bars,” said Jamie Jo Hiles, Oakley’s foster mom, regarding the news of Bowers’ arrest. “Keeping Jordan’s name out in the public will hopefully bring others forward who know something about our girl Oakley.”
Although Bowers will likely face time in prison if found guilty, there is no set time for a trial nor indication of whether Carlson was involved in the identity theft accusations as of press time. Carlson was released from jail on Aug. 3, 2022, stemming from the child endangerment charges unrelated to Oakley.
Light the Way Missing Persons Advocacy Project, an organization that has helped shed light on the timeline of Oakley’s life up until her disappearance and what has transpired since, has consistently urged the public that a reward is available for information about Oakley.
“We want to remind the public that an $85,000 reward is available for information leading to Oakley Carlson’s whereabouts. This is the time to come forward,” Light the Way Missing Persons Advocacy Project said via email.
Anyone with information who could aid law enforcement in their search for Oakley is encouraged to contact the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office at 360-533-8765 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
Contact Reporter Allen Leister at 360-463-3572 or allen.leister@thedailyworld.com.
