Press release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office
Two arrested in connection with child death in Sandy
Posted: Jan. 9-10, 2010
Photos:
On Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 at approximately 1 p.m., Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Sandy Fire rescue personnel responded to a reported death of a 3-year-old child at a rural Clackamas County address in Sandy.
On-scene deputies immediately summoned the Clackamas County Deputy Medical Examiner to the Sandy residence.
Additional investigative resources were deemed necessary and summoned to the scene. Members of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit responded with members of the CCSO Child Abuse Team. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigators and Crime Reconstruction and Forensic Technicians also arrived at the residence.
Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) specialists were also requested to assist with the emotional requirements of those at the scene.
It was expected that a forensic autopsy would be performed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office on the deceased child soon.
All appropriate family notifications were completed. Respectfully, the name of the deceased 3-year-old is not being publicly released by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
On Sunday morning at 9 a.m. a forensic autopsy was performed on the child victim at the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office, in Clackamas.
The victim child was residing at the residence with the biological father -- identified as Donald L. Cockrell, age 27, at the address of 22050 SE Cottontail Lane, in Sandy.
In addition, this residence was occupied at the time by Donald Cockrell's fiancé, identified as Michelle N. Smith, age 24.
The Cottontail Lane address is the family residence belonging to the parents of Michelle Smith in Sandy. Michelle Smith's parents reside in separate living quarters inside the home -- occupying a separate level of the home apart from their daughter Michelle, her fiancé Donald Cockrell and minor children.
Investigators discovered the residence to be occupied by a total of five (5) minor children. Two minor children residing with Donald Cockrell were identified as his biological children -- one of which is identified as the deceased child. The additional three (3) minor children present in the residence at the time of this death are identified as offspring of Michelle Smith.
On Saturday afternoon (Jan. 9), when this death investigation began, representatives from the Oregon Department of Human Services were summoned to the residence to assist and formally remove the four (4) minor children from the residence. These children are all now in the protective custody of the Oregon Department of Human Services.
SMITH, COCKRELL ARRESTED
As a result of this extensive death investigation, Michelle Smith and Donald Cockrell were arrested on murder charges by Sheriff's Office detectives and lodged in the Clackamas County Jail on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 at approximately 8:15 p.m.
Smith and Cockrell have no previously recorded criminal history.
It can be expected these two inmates will be arraigned on this matter in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 at 3 p.m.
OF POSSIBLE MEDIA INTEREST: THE 2010 CHILD ABUSE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE SUMMIT
The Child Abuse and Family Violence Summit is a three-and-a-half day multi-disciplinary conference for professionals working in the area of investigations, interviewing, assessment, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
The Summit, as it has become known over its 11-year history, is hosted by Sheriff Craig Roberts and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. The Summit's goal is to educate professionals on the complex issues associated with child abuse and family violence, to broaden each professional's knowledge base in multiple areas, and to increase understanding of the other agencies' roles and responsibilities.
The Summit's theme, "The Power of One in Collaboration with Others," continues throughout the conference as attendees learn new ways to work together to protect and make each child safe in our communities.
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Jim Strovink wishes to express his appreciation to all media outlets reporting on this tragic event. The patience and understanding exhibited by reporters during this critical and sensitive portion of the investigation are very much appreciated by the Sheriff's Office. Helping to maintain the integrity of any investigation is of foremost importance to investigators.
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Contact Info: Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer