Police: 3 arrested in connection with death of a 5-year-old girl

FERNDALE, Wash. — Three people were arrested and charged in connection to the death of a 5-year-old girl on March 8 in Ferndale, Washington, police say.

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In a news release, Ferndale Police Department officials said Melissa Welch, Cody Craig, and Michael Doane have each been charged with first-degree murder.

On Thursday, Ferndale police, along with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, took Welch, and Craig into custody near the 3300 block of Northwest Avenue. Doane was taken into custody at his house near the 2300 block of Douglas Road.

Police say Welch and Doane are the victim’s parents and that Craig is Welch’s boyfriend, according to KIRO. All three were at the house when the girl died, and all three were believed to have used fentanyl.

Investigators learned that the 5-year-old girl had a deadly amount of fentanyl in her bloodstream, according to the news outlet. Investigators say they believe that she was able to get her hands on the fentanyl at her house before she died.

In a search of the house, authorities found fentanyl, methamphetamine, and methadone along with drug paraphernalia. Police say the fentanyl was located in areas that were accessible to the victim and her sibling.

Police say they believe Welch and Craig continued to illegally distribute the fentanyl after the girl died, KIRO reported.