FERNDALE, Wash. — Cody Curtis Craig, age 33 and of Blaine, Michael Wayne Doane, age 34 and of Ferndale, and Melissa Ann Welch, age 36 and of Ferndale, have all pled guilty to charges related to the death of Welch’s and Doane’s 5-year-old daughter in March of 2023 and recently sentenced in Whatcom County Superior Court.
The charges each pled guilty to and sentences received are as follows.
- Cody Curtis Craig
- Unlawful delivery of controlled substances – fentanyl (2 counts)
- 30 months in prison for each count to be served concurrently with credit for time served
- 12 months in community custody for each count to be served concurrently
- Unlawful delivery of controlled substances – fentanyl (2 counts)
- Michael Wayne Doane
- 2nd-degree manslaughter
- 48 months in prison with credit for time served
- 18 months in community custody
- 2nd-degree manslaughter
- Melissa Ann Welch
- 2nd-degree manslaughter
- 48 months in prison with credit for time served
- 18 months in community custody
- 2nd-degree manslaughter
The 3 had been charged with 1st-degree murder with extreme indifference to human life. The affidavits of probable cause filed with the court said Ferndale Police officers had responded to investigate the death of a 5-year-old girl in the 2300 block of Douglas Road on March 8th. Officers noted indications of the girl having suffered a possible drug overdose or poisoning.
Welch and Doane are the girl’s biological parents and lived in the residence while Craig is Welch’s boyfriend who sometimes stays at the residence.
According to a City of Ferndale press release, “All three were present the night of the victim’s death and evidence indicated that all three used Fentanyl at the residence.” The 3 were later arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail on April 13, 2023. It was determined that during the time between the girl’s death and the subsequent arrests, Craig and Welch continued selling narcotics.
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