PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. — Jefferson County prosecutors have dismissed the charges against a Port Townsend father who was accused in the death of his child in January.
The charges against Jordan Sorenson were dismissed without prejudice Friday, meaning the charges could be filed again. Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney James M. Kennedy wrote that there wasn't evidence to support felony criminal charges in the death of an infant who was found dead in a park on Jan. 20.
Sorenson was previously charged with second-degree kidnapping, unauthorized removal or concealment of a body and unauthorized disposal of a body.
The baby was born on Christmas Day. The day after, the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) received a report that the baby and his mother both tested positive for fentanyl and that the child's father, identified as Sorenson in court documents, was taking care of the child most of the time. DCYF granted Sorenson temporary custody provided that he was supervised while caring for the child until he could provide a clean urine analysis.
Sorenson was ordered to reside with a woman who would supervise Sorenson's interactions with the baby.
DCYF made a home visit on Jan. 1, but Sorenson was not home. DCYF tried to contact Sorenson on Jan. 2 but he did not respond. DCYF learned that Sorenson had not arranged a doctor's appointment for the baby as he had been ordered to. DCYF arranged for a doctor's appointment and notified Sorenson that he was required to take the baby to the doctor. Sorenson responded, and DCYF picked up both him and the baby and took them to the doctor on Jan. 4.
Sorenson provided a urine analysis the next day which returned clean on Jan. 8. The woman who was supervising Sorenson was advised that he could be alone with the baby.
On Jan. 11, Sorenson left a baby's doctor's appointment without providing a urine sample, as required. DCYF texted Sorenson on Jan. 16, and Sorenson said he was no longer working with that doctor. DCYF advised Sorenson that they needed a urine analysis that day and submitted a referral for the test. Sorenson did not respond.
On Jan. 17, the woman whom Sorenson was living with advised DCYF that Sorenson was bragging he had passed his first urine analysis by buying someone else's urine. When later questioned by law enforcement, Sorenson denied that accusation.
The woman contacted DCYF the next day and told them that Sorenson and the baby's mother had returned to the apartment, but the baby was not with them. Sorenson claimed they gave the baby to his aunt for a few days.
On Jan. 19, the woman reached out to DCYF again, saying the baby's mother admitted she had not seen the baby. She said Sorenson lied to her and took the baby to hide from Child Protective Services.
DCYF eventually involved law enforcement and secured an order from a superior court judge to take custody of the child. Sorenson fled from law enforcement when they attempted to confront him at Kah Tai Park that same day.
On Jan. 20, a man called 911 and informed them that Sorenson was hiding in his tent at Kah Tai Park. Law enforcement took him into custody after a brief struggle. He eventually agreed to lead law enforcement to the child and admitted that the baby was dead.
Law enforcement found the child dead in a car seat at the east end of the park near the water line.
Sorenson told police that he had fallen asleep holding the baby, and when he woke up the infant was wedged between himself and the chair; there was blood on the child's face and he was not breathing.
The medical examiner found that the substance on the child's face was purge fluid and emerged after death as part of the decomposition process.
A toxicology report shows there was a small amount of methamphetamine present, which was likely from environmental exposure. Neither the medical examiner or toxicology expert could determine if the amount of meth played a role in the child's death.
