Murder charges filed against three Ferndale people in 5-year-old’s fentanyl death
Two men and one woman from Ferndale are facing murder charges after a 5-year-old girl allegedly overdosed and died from fentanyl in early March.
Cody Curtis Craig, 32, Michael Wayne Doane, 33, and Melissa Ann Welch, 35, are each facing one count of first-degree murder in Whatcom County Superior Court for the death of 5-year-old Olivia R. Doane, according to court records.
The first-degree murder charge for all three says that “under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life” Craig, Doane and Welch engaged in conduct “which created a grave risk of death to any person, and thereby caused the death” of Olivia Doane, according to the records.
The charge for all three also includes the aggravating factor that Curtis, Doane and Welch knew or should have known that the girl was particularly vulnerable, court records show.
Doane and Welch are the child’s parents, while Craig is Welch’s boyfriend, according to a city of Ferndale news release.
All three were charged April 7, according to court records.
Welch and Craig were arrested Thursday, April 13, in the 3300 block of Northwest Avenue in Bellingham, while Doane was arrested at his home in the 2300 block of Douglas Road in Ferndale, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.
The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office and Ferndale Police Department had been investigating the child’s death since early March, The Herald previously reported.
The Herald has reached out to the county medical examiner’s office for the time, cause and manner of death for the girl.
First appearances
Bail was set at $1 million for both Welch and Doane at their first appearances in court Thursday afternoon.
As Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey was speaking about how Welch allegedly continued to sell narcotics after her daughter’s death, Welch said “What are you even talking about? I went to detox.”
When Richey asked Whatcom County Superior Court Commissioner Ann Vetter-Hansen to set bail at $1 million, Welch started shouting and crying, and said “But I haven’t done anything,” which prompted her attorney to ask for permission to take a brief pause.
After taking less than a 30-second break, Welch’s hearing resumed. Throughout the rest of the hearing, Welch sat in a chair next to her attorney and moaned, while also clutching her chest, the podium next to her and holding her face.
Defense attorney Ryan Swinburnson asked the commissioner to release Welch on her personal recognizance. He said there were less restrictive options, such as electronic home monitoring, that could be imposed, rather than a high bail.
“I don’t think there’s a concern that Ms. Welch is going to go out and commit a murder,” Swinburnson said.
While Richey was speaking about Welch’s past criminal history, Welch shouted an expletive, prompting the court commissioner to admonish her and tell her to remain quiet.
As Vetter-Hansen explained Welch’s bail and release conditions to her, Welch’s actions prompted the commissioner to ask if she was paying attention.
“Yes, I’m listening. I just lost my daughter. I’m also grieving. Do you remember that part? I lost my daughter,” Welch said in response.
Vetter-Hansen said she decided to set bail at $1 million for both Welch and Doane because she was concerned about public and community safety implications when it comes to fentanyl, and added that the context of the charges was concerning.
If released from the Whatcom County Jail, Welch, Doane and Craig are not allowed to have direct or indirect contact with one another.
Both Welch and Doane have arraignments on April 21.
Craig’s first appearance was continued until Friday afternoon because an attorney was not available to represent him.
