Third suspect in 5-year-old Ferndale girl’s fentanyl death has bail set

The last of three people accused of murder for the early March fentanyl death of a 5-year-old Ferndale girl has been appointed an attorney nearly a week after his arrest.

Cody Curtis Craig, 32, of Bellingham, was charged April 7 in Whatcom County Superior Court with one count of first-degree murder for the March 8 death of 5-year-old Olivia R. Doane. Prosecutors also charged Melissa Ann Welch, 35, and Michael Wayne Doane, 33, both of Ferndale, for the child’s death.

Each of the murder charges includes the aggravating factor that Welch, Craig and Doane knew or should have known that the child was particularly vulnerable, the court records show.

All three were arrested April 13, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.

Welch and Doane are the girl’s biological parents, and Craig is Welch’s boyfriend, according to court records.

The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office has not responded to repeated requests by The Herald for the cause and manner of the child’s death.

First appearance

Welch and Doane both had bail set at $1 million at their first appearances in court April 13.

Craig’s first appearance was continued three times until Tuesday afternoon, April 18, because an attorney could not be found for him.

Because Welch, Doane and Craig are all co-defendants in the case, the Whatcom County Public Defender’s Office can only represent one of them, requiring outside conflict attorneys to be appointed for the other two.

During Craig’s first appearance Tuesday, Whatcom County deputy prosecuting attorney David Graham requested the court commissioner set Craig’s bail at $1 million.

Graham said the allegations against Craig were serious and it was “very alarming” that Craig allegedly continued selling narcotics after the child’s death.

Court records show Craig is connected to a separate ongoing narcotics investigation.

Craig’s defense attorney, Carl Munson, said Tuesday that Craig has lived his whole life in Whatcom County and was unemployed at the time of the girl’s death.

Munson said while the allegations “are incredibly serious, it’s important to keep in mind that they are allegations. Craig is innocent as he stands here before the court.”

Munson asked the court commissioner to set bail at something lower than $1 million.

The commissioner ultimately set Craig’s bail at $1 million and ordered him to have no contact with Welch or Doane and not to possess or use controlled substances unless prescribed to him.

Craig’s arraignment is scheduled for April 21.

Doane and Welch are expected to have their arraignments the same day.

Child’s death

Ferndale police responded at 9:17 a.m. on March 8 to the 2300 block of Douglas Road for a death investigation of a 5-year-old female, according to court records.

Ferndale police were told Welch called and reported that her daughter was dead.

When Ferndale police arrived at the Douglas Road home, they found the 5-year-old girl dead in her bed in her bedroom.

Due to foam in the child’s mouth, police suspected a possible drug overdose or poisoning, the court records show.

Welch, Craig and Doane were all present at the Douglas Road home when police arrived and found the child. Doane’s girlfriend and Welch’s 8-year-old daughter were also there.

Security camera footage showed the 5-year-old girl was “happy and healthy” on March 7, which led police to believe the child consumed fentanyl sometime during the night, the records state.

Drug paraphernalia, including a butane lighter and foils, and suspected narcotics were found in multiple locations during a search of the residence. The items tested positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine and methadone, and were found in areas accessible to both the 5-year-old and 8-year-old, according to court records.

Fentanyl powder was also found on the floor of the garage next to children’s toys and candy.

Days after the child’s death, Welch and Craig were allegedly seen selling narcotics and investigators conducted a controlled purchase from them, the records show.

Ferndale police and Child Protective Services relocated the 8-year-old sibling, who is now with family members, The Herald previously reported.