Missing 4-Year-Old Oakley Carlson Declared Dead Four Years Later | Crime Alert 6AM 10.22.25

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Missing 4-Year-Old Oakley Carlson Declared Dead Four Years Later | Crime Alert 6AM 10.22.25
Date: October 22, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Nancy Grace delivers breaking news on the heartbreaking case of Oakley Carlson, a Washington state child declared legally dead nearly four years after her disappearance. The episode dives into the complex investigation, judicial process, ongoing suspicions around her parents, and the emotional reactions of those close to the case. The episode also covers crime news about Virginia Giuffre's memoir, exposing more allegations in the Jeffrey Epstein network and renewed scrutiny on Prince Andrew.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Declared Death of Oakley Carlson

[00:00 - 02:54]

• Oakley's Disappearance and Declaration of Death

  • Oakley Carlson was last seen in 2021; her body has never been found.
  • The case became public when a school principal overheard Oakley’s sister describe their mother’s claim that "Oakley had, quote, gone out into the woods and had been eaten by wolves."
  • After years of investigation, a Pacific County judge has declared Oakley legally dead at the petition of her siblings, marking nearly four years since she was last seen alive at age 4.
  • Her mother, Jordan Bowers, who had just been released from prison, and her father, Andrew Carlson, remain suspects in an open homicide investigation.

• Background and Family History

  • Oakley was returned to her biological parents from foster care in 2019 by the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families.
  • Both parents gave conflicting and false statements about Oakley’s whereabouts and were convicted of child endangerment related to exposing their other children to methamphetamine.
  • Bowers was later sentenced to 43 months for identity theft and recently released under supervision.

• Foster Mother’s Response

  • Jamie Jo Hiles, Oakley’s former foster mother, was shocked by the declaration and remains deeply engaged with investigators.
  • Hiles emphasizes the importance of keeping Oakley's case in the public eye.

Notable Quotes

• "Oakley's body has never been found. Last seen alive by someone other than her parents in 2021..."
  — Nancy Grace [00:04]

• "Her mother, Jordan Bowers, who was released from prison just weeks before the ruling, remains a suspect."
  — Drew Nelson [00:34]

• "I hope that they just keep seeing Oakley’s face and maybe they just are like, okay, I need to... I need to come forward with what I know."
  — Jamie Jo Hiles [01:49]

• "I think that just keeping her relevant just kind of refreshes everybody’s memory that yes, she is still out there and it’s important to keep her name alive.”
  — Jamie Jo Hiles [02:32]

Suspicious Parental Statements and Investigation Details

• The “eaten by wolves” claim deeply concerned detectives but no physical evidence supported it, instead establishing "suspicious circumstances" around the disappearance.

• Detectives describe both parents as “persons of interest” in a "nobody homicide case."

• The reward for information in the Oakley Carlson case has now grown to $100,000.
  Law enforcement invites tips to the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office at 360-964-1729.

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Virginia Giuffre Memoir & Epstein Case Updates

[04:35 - 08:18]

• Memoir Posthumously Released

  • Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, "Nobody’s Girl," was published six months after her death, candidly detailing her trafficking and sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and others.
  • She described being repeatedly raped by "scores of wealthy, powerful people," including naming a “well known prime minister” and a “former US Senator.”
  • Giuffre alleged childhood sexual abuse by her father, claims which he denies.

• Allegations Against Prince Andrew and Royal Fallout

  • Giuffre recounted being trafficked to Prince Andrew, noting he correctly guessed her age as 17.
    "He was friendly enough, but still entitled, as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright." — Virginia Giuffre [05:42]
  • Prince Andrew’s legal team paid a civil settlement; he continues to deny wrongdoing.
  • Giuffre’s book claims Andrew’s associates hired online trolls to harass her, and that Scotland Yard is investigating claims he sought dirt on her.
  • Pressure is mounting for the prince to step away from public life; biographer Tina Brown states William and Kate "can't abide Andrew and want him... to disappear from Windsor."

• Public and Political Response

  • UK MPs are calling for an inquiry into Prince Andrew’s taxpayer-subsidized Windsor estate arrangements amid the scandal.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Oakley Carlson case main coverage:
  [00:00 – 02:54]

• Foster mother Jamie Jo Hiles speaks:

  • On the ongoing need to keep Oakley’s story alive: [01:49], [02:32]
  • Emotional response to declaration of death and parents’ release

• Reward and contact info for the Oakley case:
  [02:39] – [02:54]

• Virginia Giuffre memoir crime update:
  [04:35 – 08:18]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Detectives described that as one of several disturbing comments that made them fear Oakley had been killed.”
  — Drew Nelson, on the 'eaten by wolves' statement [01:56]

• “The powerful men who used me were never punished, but she wanted her story told so others would know what she endured.”
  — Drew Nelson, quoting Giuffre’s memoir [06:46]

• "Prince William and Princess Kate, quote, can’t abide Andrew and want him and Sarah Ferguson to, quote, disappear from Windsor."
  — Drew Nelson, quoting Tina Brown [07:49]

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Tone & Style

Nancy Grace maintains her direct, impassioned style, demanding accountability and pushing for public vigilance, particularly for missing children. The coverage combines rigorous reporting with emotional testimony, highlighting the human stakes of both justice and remembrance.

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Further Information

• Oakley Carlson tip line: 360-964-1729 (Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office)
• For ongoing updates, visit crimeonline.com.

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Conclusion

This episode brings closure, yet unresolved pain, to Oakley Carlson’s case through her legal declaration of death amid continuing suspicions around her parents. The refusal to let the child’s memory fade echoes throughout, most poignantly in the words of her foster mother Jamie Jo Hiles. In parallel, the segment on Virginia Giuffre’s memoir exposes more details from the Epstein scandal, stoking calls for further royal accountability.

Listeners are encouraged to stay informed, vigilant, and proactive in cases of missing persons and the pursuit of justice.

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Transcript

[A]

Crime Alert, I'm Nancy Grace. Breaking crime news now. Oakley Carlson has just been declared dead. Little Oakley's body has never been found. Last seen alive by someone other than her parents in 2021, her Washington state disappearance finally reported by a school principal who overhears Oakley's sister say her mom told her Oakley had, quote, gone out into the woods and had been in eaten by wolves. Our Drew Nelson joins us with the latest.

[B]

Nancy Even as detectives continue to treat her case as an open homicide investigation, a judge declared Oakley Carlson legally dead. Her mother, Jordan Bowers, who was released from prison just weeks before the ruling, remains a suspect. Records show the death declaration came in Pacific county superior court nearly four years after Oakley was last seen at age 4. The petition filed on behalf of her siblings. The ruling follows years of unanswered questions since Oakley disappeared from her parents home in Oakville. The child had once lived safely with foster parents, but in 2019, the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families returned her to her biological parents, Bowers and Andrew Carlson. Detectives said the couple gave conflicting and false statements when asked about their daughter's whereabouts. Both were later convicted of child endangerment for exposing their other children to meth. More recently, Bowers was sentenced in 2023 to 43 months in prison for identity theft and released last on community supervision for one year. Detectives from the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office confirmed both parents are still considered suspects in a so called nobody homicide case. Jamie Jo Hiles, who was Oakley's foster mother, says the declaration of death came as a shock. She spoke to Komo.

[C]

I hope that they just keep seeing Oakley's face and maybe they just are like, okay, I need to, I need to come forward with what I know.

[B]

Hiles says she still speaks often with investigators and finds Bowers release unnerving. According to records, Oakley's six year old sister told investigators that their mother had told her not to talk about Oakley and that she had, quote, gone out into the woods and had been eaten by wolves. Detectives described that as one of several disturbing comments that made them fear Oakley had been killed. No physical evidence ever supported that claim, but it helped establish what investigators called suspicious circumstances around the disappearance and led to Bowers and Andrew Carlson being treated as persons of interest. Hiles continues to advocate for Oakley.

[C]

I think that just keeping her relevant just kind refreshes everybody's memory that yes, she is still out there and it's important to keep her name alive.

[B]

Oakley would have turned 8 years old this year. The reward for information in her case has grown to $100,000. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's office at 360-964-1729.

[A]

Thanks, Drew. More crime and justice news after.

[B]

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[D]

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[C]

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[E]

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[C]

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[B]

Virginia Giuffre's memoir Nobody's Girl is released six months after her death, describing how she was trafficked and raped by powerful men while trapped in Jeffrey Epstein's sex ring. She wrote that she feared she might, quote, die a sex slave. Giuffre says she was trafficked to, quote, scores of wealthy, powerful people. In one section, she described being taken to a, quote, well known prime minister who she said, quote, raped me more savagely than anyone had before. She wrote that he choked her until she lost consciousness and laughed at her, becoming fearful of him. Afterwards, she said she begged Epstein not to send her back. Quote, I got down on my knees and pleaded with him. I don't know if Epstein feared the man or if he owed him a favor, but he wouldn't make any promises, saying coldly of the politician's brutality, you'll get that sometimes. The book also describes abuse that began when she was 7 years old. Giuffre alleged that her father molested her as a child and traded her to a family friend. Her father Denied the claim. Her brother told NBC News that he confronted him, saying, you sexually abused your daughter. It's absolutely heinous what he did. Giuffre says she was groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell and trafficked by Epstein starting at age 16, forced to have sex with men in politics and business. She mentioned a, quote, gubernatorial candidate who was soon to win an election in a Western state, and also, quote, a former US Senator. She also described being trafficked to Prince Andrew before they had sex for the first time. She said he guessed her age correctly. 17, quote, he was friendly enough, but still entitled, as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright. His lawyers later paid her to settle her civil case. In another part of the book, she wrote that Epstein and Maxwell bragged about their friendship with former President Bill Clinton and how easily Maxwell could reach him. Giuffre also said Epstein, quote, loved to boast about his friendship with Donald Trump and kept a framed photo of them together on his desk. She wrote that, quote, the powerful men who used me were never punished, but she wanted her story told so others would know what she endured. Prince Andrew is under mounting pressure to leave public life forever as the new allegations deepen the embarrassment for the royal family. The book mentions Andrew 88 times.

[E]

It also alleges his team tried to hire Internet trolls to harass her. Andrew denies all wrongdoing. The pressure is also mounting over Prince Andrew's home at Royal Lodge in Windsor. A lease signed in 2003 says he paid a million pounds for a 75 year lease and spent $7.5 million on renovations. In return, he has paid, quote, one peppercorn if demanded in rent each year. The Crown estate would owe him about 558,000 pounds if he gave up the property before his lease expires in 2078. MPs from multiple parties have called for an inquiry into how the arrangement was handled since Crown Estate profits go to the Treasury. Royal biographer Tina Brown says Prince William and Princess Kate quote, can't abide Andrew and want him and Sarah Ferguson to, quote, disappear from Windsor. Brown wrote that their presence near the new home of the Prince and princess, quote, spoils life at their forever home. The King is said to have, quote, acted decisively, removing Andrew's remaining titles from the palace website and urging him to live quietly. Scotland Yard has confirmed it is investigating claims that Andrew asked a police officer to, quote, dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre. Her co author, Amy Wallace, says Giuffre, quote, would have viewed it as a victory that he was forced, by whatever means to voluntarily give them up. She called it, quote, a step in the right direction and said Prince Andrew should finally share what he knows about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

[A]

Thanks, Drew. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides with this crime alert. I'm Nancy Grace.

[C]

This is an iHeart podcast.