Christina D. Carlson, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to second degree murder and criminal mistreatment in the tragic death of her 19-month-old daughter. The prosecution and defense are recommending a prison sentence of eight to thirteen years for Carlson, though Judge James L. Robart retains the discretion to impose any sentence up to life imprisonment.
Carlson, now 38, was indicted by a grand jury last May following the October 2012 death of her child and the neglect of another daughter. The sentencing is set for July 21, 2014.
The investigation revealed harrowing details of Carlson’s actions. On October 8, 2012, emergency crews were called to Marine Drive NE on the Tulalip Tribal Reservation where Carlson was performing CPR on her unconscious and unresponsive 19-month-old daughter. The child, found in a state of neglect with feces and urine covering her body, was ultimately pronounced dead at the hospital. A second child, aged 33 months, was also discovered near the car seat, unresponsive and covered in urine and feces but later recovered.
Carlson has been in federal custody since January 11, 2013. The plea agreement reveals that Carlson had been living in her car with the girls since mid-September, leaving them unsupervised while she sought drugs for personal use. Her return to the car came after a neighbor’s plea to check on her children.
The Tulalip Tribal Police and the FBI conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London is handling the prosecution.
This devastating tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the horror that can occur in cases of child neglect and abuse, and the justice system’s commitment to holding those responsible accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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