Toddler found dead in car; mother arrested
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TULALIP, Wash. -- An 18-month-old girl has died after being found inside a car with her 2-year-old sister on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, and the girls' mother has been arrested.
Someone called 911 Monday evening to report an unresponsive infant found inside a car parked down a gravel road, in the 1000 block of Marine Dr. Her 2-year-old sister was also in the car.
"This is an area leading to an abandoned house, so therefore they were not living down there -- it's a place where people gather once in a while," said Tulalip Tribe Chairman Mel Sheldon.
The 18-month-old girl was taken to Providence Medical Center in Everett where she was later pronounced dead. She was identified by the Department of Social and Health Services as Chantel Craig.
Chantel's sister was taken to Children's Hospital in Seattle for treatment of dehydration but is expected to recover. Neither Sheldon nor police officials gave any further details surrounding Chantel's death or the girls' discovery.
Sheldon described the scene investigators found as terribly tragic.
"I was told that the police officers, the medical technicians, many of them were so heartbroken, that many of them, who've done this time and time again, were actually crying because it just touched their heart," he said.
The girls' family were part of the Tulalip Tribe, Sheldon said. Her mother, Christina Carlson, is being held on possible charges of endangerment and failure to care for the children. Sheldon said the girls' parents had separated and their father is at Children's Hospital with the surviving daughter.
Meanwhile, police are still investigating the little girl's death, but Sheldon said the tribe will come together to support the children.
"The tribe will stand up for this one and the parents in our community, absolutely," Sheldon said.
The Department of Social and Health Services said the agency investigated the girl's mother within the past year for allegations of abuse involving the 18-month-old girl.
A tip led the agency to launch the investigation, which was recently closed because DSHS could not complete it due to an undisclosed reason..
Friend Cyrus Williams said he tried to help the girls' mother through a tough time. He said the family was homeless and had stayed on his land for several weeks.
"I've known Christina off and on for quite a while. She is a good lady, a good friend," he said. "I guess her boyfriend or husband went to jail for abuse. And she didn't have nowhere to stay, so she stayed here."
But the family moved away several weeks ago, said Williams.
"There's a place down there where some homeless stay," he said.
Despite the DSHS investigation, Williams described Carlson as "a good mom."
"And she'd be alright if she had a good place to stay," he said. "I hope she can get a little help somewhere."
Because the child died after DSHS closed its investigation, the agency's fatality review board will review the case file.
Someone called 911 Monday evening to report an unresponsive infant found inside a car parked down a gravel road, in the 1000 block of Marine Dr. Her 2-year-old sister was also in the car.
"This is an area leading to an abandoned house, so therefore they were not living down there -- it's a place where people gather once in a while," said Tulalip Tribe Chairman Mel Sheldon.
The 18-month-old girl was taken to Providence Medical Center in Everett where she was later pronounced dead. She was identified by the Department of Social and Health Services as Chantel Craig.
Chantel's sister was taken to Children's Hospital in Seattle for treatment of dehydration but is expected to recover. Neither Sheldon nor police officials gave any further details surrounding Chantel's death or the girls' discovery.
Sheldon described the scene investigators found as terribly tragic.
"I was told that the police officers, the medical technicians, many of them were so heartbroken, that many of them, who've done this time and time again, were actually crying because it just touched their heart," he said.
The girls' family were part of the Tulalip Tribe, Sheldon said. Her mother, Christina Carlson, is being held on possible charges of endangerment and failure to care for the children. Sheldon said the girls' parents had separated and their father is at Children's Hospital with the surviving daughter.
Meanwhile, police are still investigating the little girl's death, but Sheldon said the tribe will come together to support the children.
"The tribe will stand up for this one and the parents in our community, absolutely," Sheldon said.
The Department of Social and Health Services said the agency investigated the girl's mother within the past year for allegations of abuse involving the 18-month-old girl.
A tip led the agency to launch the investigation, which was recently closed because DSHS could not complete it due to an undisclosed reason..
Friend Cyrus Williams said he tried to help the girls' mother through a tough time. He said the family was homeless and had stayed on his land for several weeks.
"I've known Christina off and on for quite a while. She is a good lady, a good friend," he said. "I guess her boyfriend or husband went to jail for abuse. And she didn't have nowhere to stay, so she stayed here."
But the family moved away several weeks ago, said Williams.
"There's a place down there where some homeless stay," he said.
Despite the DSHS investigation, Williams described Carlson as "a good mom."
"And she'd be alright if she had a good place to stay," he said. "I hope she can get a little help somewhere."
Because the child died after DSHS closed its investigation, the agency's fatality review board will review the case file.
What many people who do not live near a tribal reservation fail to understand is that there is a long history of lack of cooperation and distrust between the tribal authorities and local/federal government which is one of the reasons they have their own police force and for the most part self-govern themselves. Â I would imagine that an outside DHS investigation did not get far because no one would cooperate with them. I am not passing judgement here...I do think that this allows them to govern with cultural sensitivities and the distrust is rooted in cultural history...but with that system comes a great responsibility to their people to address the fundamental problems that allowed these most vulnerable and precious members of their nation to suffer. Â There is now one less member to carry on their legacy which they have fought so hard to preserve. Â I think the tribe needs to take a cold hard look at their responsibility to enforce laws for the protection of their people and culture.
I read in the Herald's article on line that the maximum jail sentence for criminal endangerment is one year....ONE YEAR! Â Are you freaking kidding me? Â How is it a person can be charge with manslaughter for accidental death and yet a mother can seemingly walk away from her vehicle with two small children inside, resulting in the death of one and not get any more than one year! Â Our society is seriously screwed up!Â
Read in article mentioned in these comments that the conditions inside of the car was so dirty the police had to wear hazmat suits to conduct there investigation!!! Sad just so sad. Also states the Tribe thinks where they were was some type of drug house but not sure!!Â
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My heart goes out to that poor little angel, may she rest in peace! Also my prayers go out to the 2yr old. I hope someone takes care of this little angel better than her sister was cared for.Â
DSHS could not complete investigation due to undisclosed reasons, REALLY!! You incompetent azzes!!! Now look  at what your incomplete investigation led to, the DEATH OF AN 18 MONTH OLD INFANT!!! Hope you all are proud of yourselves!!!! And the mother was a good mom, what really, you've got to be joking me!!! No way in he// a good mom would leave an 18 month old and a two year old in a car long enough for one to be dehydrated and the other to die!! Sorry that is not my opinion of a good mom!!!!
Once again, Komo fails to report the entire story. I first happened up on this tragic story yesterday via Komo.com. I was horrified and then went to Seattle Times and Heraldnet.com where I was able to find out that both girls were ill. I don't want to pass judgement until I know the entire story, but clearly the mother neglected to take her girls to the hospital and should be punished. I cannot imagine the grief of the sister when she grows up and learns how she lost her little sister. Horrifying all around. The problem with Komo is that they give minimal details in order to fear-monger and keep your coming back for more info/stay tuned, when you can go to a newspaper site or AP wire and get more info than what Komo provides. I have been watching Komo news since I was a toddler, but I am getting fed up with the drip feeding and poor news writing on this site. I am a Journalism grad and could write a more clear story as a middle school student than the person assigned to the online news.Â
DSHS can only do what they can do, it is ultimately this mothers fault in this child's death. Â You can go through all of the "what if's" but it still doesn't make a damn bit of difference, the child is dead. Â "A good mom" Â I think not. Â She is going to have to live with herself and that will not be easy.
Mr. Williams: A âgood momâ does not abandon her babies. A good mother has the soul of a grizzly bear and will protect her children at any cost â even if it means her own life.
 @maesmaze BINGO, you hit the nail on the head! My question is where was that so called good mother while her baby died in that car?
"The Department of Social and Health Services said the agency investigated the girl's mother within the past year for allegations of abuse involving the 18-month-old girl. A tip led the agency to launch the investigation, which was recently closed because DSHS could not complete it due to an undisclosed reason.."
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If firefighters fought fires the way DSHS protects children, they'd be fighting fires with bottled water and drinking straws and claimimg it was effective.
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"Because the child died after DSHS closed its investigation, the agency's fatality review board will review the case file."
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Wow, let's all make sure we get to the bottom of this just like they fully resolved the issues that became so very apparent after the Josh Powell incident. It does raise the same questions. Why does the agency that is set to protect children, allow so many to pay the price for the agencies incompetance? Where does all our tax dollars go? Why do they continue to fail to fix the same mistakes?
@what? You are sooooooo right. Very well said.
While everyone here wants to focus on the mother, don't forget there is another person that had a responsibility to these children. Where was he while they suffered? Please don't misunderstand me, I cannot understand how a mother could allow this to happen to her children. But, she didn't make these babies by herself. Where is he and what was he doing to protect his children from this horrible situation?
@Southern Charm I see several issues here. First and foremost is custody. If she had full custody, then she is ultimately responsible for the children with DHSH running a distant second considering they failed to protect the kids. If the father had custody, if he had shared custody, if he was involved in the kids lives, that'd be a different story. I fault mommy dearest and DHSH for this. She did it and DSHS allowed it to happen.
 @what? and @Straight Arrow my question asked, where Was the father While these children suffered? He helped make them yet, he did not step in. I certainly lay blame with this mother, regardless of what she may be going through, her children should have been her 1st priority (She should have placed them in foster care or with family until she got her life in order). As for the father,while he may be at the hospital with the surviving child, the condition in which these children were living in did not happen overnight and he failed or didn't care enough to intervene. I believe that his ignoring the situation places him at fault as well.Â
This article made mention of the husband/boyfriend being in jail... I also read he is at the hospital with the surviving child.
I am so very sorry about this tragic, senseless death. Sometimes people are so desperate, they don't think clearly and don't know where to turn for help. I don't understand how one child is two and the other one is 18 months; that only six months difference in age.....minor, just wondering. I hope the surviving angel can find a loving home and hope mom can get some help. RIP, little angel.
 @mustang sally I think it is not so important, but my guess is that the older child is not 2 as in an even 2, but 2 and some months. A child who is just shy of 3 is still considered 2, so that is more than enough time between children. I hope this helps to resolve the confusion.
That is probably the answer; didn't think about that response. As you know, I am truly sorry for this death.......so very heart-wrenching. People just don't always think clearly when desperate.
I don't know this Cyrus Williams but how does he define a woman who abandons her chiildren to die as "a good mom"??
@Willow That's exactly what I was thinking.
Where the hell was the mother when these children were left alone in a car? This is just disturbing and heartbreaking. This child's death has nothing to do with the woman and her children being homeless. She abandoned her children alone in a car for who knows how long! Hopefully she doesn't get custody back of the 2 year old. I'd love to just beat the snot out of that POS.
Shame on the mother for putting her kids in that situation -- a mother's job first and foremost is the health and safety of her children. Shame on her friends and family for not helping her. This tragedy could have been prevented,
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RIP little angel. xoxoxoxo
I wonder how many days the little ones were left alone in the car without food or water?
Unbelievable. When this happens to a white child, everyone is horrified. When it happens to a child of any other ethnicity, many people are horrified, and it would seen just as many, if not more, can't wait to start expressing their opinions about how nasty the 'others" are.
@WhatRJDid Really? I tend to think that probably everyone is horrified to read this story. If they are not then there is something wrong with them. There is not a race issue here at all. This was a child and this is horribly tragic!
Everyone on here has an opinion and can put the blame for this how they see it. But we all agree that it wasn't the little girls fault, no one should have a life or death like this.Â
It was not the Tulalip Tribes fault. The tribe did not encourage this person to use drugs. Infact, the tribe offers so much help to its members that there isn't an excuse for this, but the individual has got to want the help.
I know from personal experience of watching friends on this reservation, go from loving and protective parents to selfish addicts. This woman may have been a loving parent at one point, but obviously she failed these babies. When she is clean and sober, she will still be living with this reality.
At the very least, I am hoping that this tragic loss, and these girls suffering will serve as a wake up call for others who are currently using or for those who are tempted to start.
No one wants to see this happen to another innocent child.
If the tribe knew a parent was using, it would be wonderful if they could have someone check in with the children daily to make sure they were safe. Is there a system like that on Tulalip? I know this sounds unreasonable but it may safe a childs life one day.
@agatha Tulalip is big on helping their people. Especially children and elderly. No government program is perfect... They have programs set up specifically for keeping children safe and getting the care that they need... but they must be aware of the need.Â
You can't help someone who doesn't want help. And you can't drive every dead-end road looking for someone who is hiding out so they can use their drugs without being found out.Â
These babies were the vicitims and an individuals choices...  Â
 @Straight Arrow At the very least the Tribe was responsible for these children. If they knew the mother was in trouble and did not want help, they should have done all they could have to support DSHS or other agencies in taking these children away from their mother and giving them a better life.
@k_did @Straight Arrow
@k_did @Straight Arrow i Does not seem to appear that you know anything about Tulalip as your comment is very stereo typical. For one, when you say it is the "Tribes" responsibility,
@k_did Are you assuming that they knew and didn't act? or do you know for a fact that this is the case?
@Tattooed_Angel First, I do not know for a fact that drugs were involved. I have read other new reports that indicate it though. Second, being homeless is not a reason for these girls to be left alone for days... I can not fathom a clean or sober parent leaving their child, unattended, uncared for, in the cold day and night. And with resources available, why else would she not seek help. Unless she was a user, and I'm sure that the homeless shelter provided by the tribe is conditional upon being drug and alcohol free. But as I have stated, there is care for the children available and treatment for the adults if they will go.
Until the facts are all made known, it is circumstantial, but it does sound most likely to be the case.
Either way, there was no need for those girls to suffer as they did. None.
@Straight Arrow And where do you see that this mother was a drug user? I don't see that in the article.
@k_did No one, not the Tribe, not the family, not the friend, not the community... no one wants a thing like this to happen.
Just because a friend knew, doesn't mean that someone in authority knew. And someone without drug use can become a habitual user/addict faster than most think. We do not know her history. I don't know if she was a know user... do you? People with drug addictions can be very good at concealing there problems, especially if they are worried that they may lose their children if someone finds out they are using.  Â
And I know that Tulalip Tribes offers housing, drug and alcohol treatments, homeless shelters, medical, dental, counceling... ect. The individual must want help. If a need was known, if help was wanted, it was there... You are blaming a government for an individual persons choices.
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 @Straight Arrow  @k_did Can you tell me that no one in the tribe knew that this woman was living like this? The story above tells us that at least one person knew. The tribes don't want involvement from outside agencies, yet they do nothing to help their own. I grew up in BC and I know this cycle well...
Tulalip Tribe Chairman, Mel Sheldon: Why didn't you and your tribal members use some of the profits from your gambling casinos and other commercial enterprises to help this woman and her two children out of this tragic mess?
 @kilroywashere There is plenty to go around. They just received or are about to receive $10,000 from casino profits on top of the $2000 a month they get for every man, woman, and child.
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020519&slug=tulalip19m
 @JeepRex Anyone can Google Tulalip Tribes and come up with any number of random news stories to support one's distaste for Natives. Before you throw around your supposed "facts", you might want to at least check the date. That article is from 2002, and the membership never received that money, nor do we get anywhere near $2,000 a month. I'd say your post is an ignorant, epic fail on your part. I can understand if people are upset about the circumstances of this child's death; I'm one of them. However, blaming the Tribe and making frivolous criticisms about us is no way to mourn that little girl. R.I.P. angel.
Go to king 5. Â They have more info on this.
 @FBrumfield King 5 said that the inside of the car was so dirty investigators had to wear hazmat suits. And that the children had been left in there for days.
 @FBrumfield http://www.king5.com/news/cities/everett/Woman-detained-after-two-children-found-in-car-in-Marysville-173346101.html?gallery=y&c=y
How much did this baby girl suffer? How long were they left alone in that car?  How long did they go without food or water? Â
I am not Native American. I grew up on the Rez in a different county. I also now live off the Rez and have for many years. I have alot of Native friends who I grew up with. From personal experience, Natives can go off the rez and get drugs and alcohol, as they do. Also white people can go on the Rez and get drugs and alcohol, as they do. It is a two lane street and we are no different. We all bleed red and we all are capable of making positive decisions. It all comes down to a personal choice to make the right decisions for ourselves and our families. If you are incapable of making those decisions, then you will face the consiquences for your actions, native or not native, it is all the same. I know natives that have their masters degree, and I know white people who are in jail and have their kids taken away because they are drug addicts. Vise Versa it can be the other way around also. We are all people and no one is better than anyone else. If you ask me I would say that the mother will be punished in her own mind, for the rest of her life, and that is the worst kind of punishment, it is called guilt, and forever will she be trapped in her own guilt.
I find some of the comments here to be offensive, to be racist as well as privilege based. How sad that a child loses her life and the things people comment on are the poverty visible in a photo? As if poverty is not found around the world as well as all over America? How sad for those people.
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I live and work in the Tulalip community. During the years that I have lived here I have been treated with kindness, with generosity and with neighborliness by both my Tulalip neighbors and my non-Native neighbors. At this time our entire community is hurting, is reeling from this terrible loss. I would ask that you pray for our community, that you pray for your own community as well as all those around you, as these are not isolated events happening only on reservations. These stories are far too common all over America. Let's come together as neighbors, as an extended community to find solutions, not to finger point at poverty or at reservations as the cause, but as another symptom that we have to find a cure for. We are a very intelligent country, surely we can come together to mourn with our neighbors at Tulalip and to pray with our neighbors at Tulalip, and to create a useful dialogue which can possibly lead to solutions that help all of our communities? Is that too much to ask? I thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
With all the money that they get, why is it that every tribal village I've seen looks like this 'vacant lot'? Have some pride people!
A Tribal Cluster
So sick of these stories, time and time again. Â The parents fail these children, the system fail these children. Â The mother deserves to be put to death. Â Poor little girls....they deserved better...they deserved protection.
CARLSON, CHRISTINAÂ DETHEALLA was booked into the Snohomish County Jail but Tulalip Police. Â
Here's the charges:
CRIMINAL ENDANGERMENT, Charging Agency TULALIP TRIBES
CRIMINAL ENDANGERMENT (0120000) Charging Agency TULALIP TRIBES
FAILURE TO SUPPORT OR CARE FOR DEPENDENT PERSON (0122700) Charging Agency TULALIP TRIBES
FAILURE TO SUPPORT OR CARE FOR DEPENDENT PERSON (0122700) Charging Agency TULALIP TRIBES
DRIVE W/LICENSE SUSP OR REVOKED-3 OR REVOKED LIC OR PRIVILEGE (0763300) Charging Agency MARYSVILLE P.D.
If you want to place blame (besides the mother), take a long hard look at DSHS..... They failed that child just as much as the mom.
 @victory1 DSHS has been cut back so far by the economy that they can't do their job right.