In the small community of Baker City, Oregon, a heart-wrenching story unfolded on November 4, 2018, forever changing the lives of a young family. Two-year-old Liam Paul Lee Mankins, a Caucasian male, was at his home on Birch Street when tragedy struck. Just after 11 a.m., a call was made to emergency services reporting that the young boy had sustained a gunshot wound.
First responders arrived at the scene to find the toddler critically injured.
Immediate medical attention was provided, and Liam was rushed to a local hospital, Saint Alphonsus in Baker City. The severity of his injury necessitated a higher level of care, and he was quickly airlifted to a hospital in Boise, Idaho. Despite the urgent efforts of medical teams, Liam succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead that afternoon. At the time of the incident, both of his parents were present in the home.
The investigation into the devastating event was handled by the Baker County Major Crime Team. As they delved into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, a grim picture of the home environment began to emerge. The investigation led to the conclusion that the fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Investigators also discovered the presence of methamphetamine within the residence, accessible to the young child. This discovery pointed to a level of neglect that had horrific consequences.
In the wake of their son's death, Liam's parents, Peter Lee Mankins and Diana Lynn Goodman, faced serious criminal charges. Following a grand jury indictment, both were arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. The charges also included endangering the welfare of a minor and recklessly endangering another person, which stemmed from the presence of not only Liam but also his 4-month-old sibling in a home where drugs were allegedly accessible.
