For the second time in as many weeks, a granted motion of continuance will delay the pre-trial conference for Jordan Bowers, the biological mother and a prime suspect in the disappearance of 6-year-old Oakley Carlson.

Bowers, who has been held in custody since January at Grays Harbor County Jail on multiple charges of identity theft, remained silent aside from addressing her name to the court as she appeared via Zoom for the quick hearing.

Originally scheduled to occur on April 3, the pre-trial conference was designed to allow state prosecutors and Bowers’ defense attorney, Michael Nagle, to address any “scheduling issues or discovery issues” as stated by Judge Katherine Svoboda, the pre-assigned judge for the trial.

Prosecuting Attorney Leanne Stogsdill, who once again was filling in for an absent Richard Petersen, noted the necessity of more time as the rationale for the request for a new postponement.

“I’m standing in for Mr. Petersen this morning. He says he and Mr. Nagle have been in negotiations and that they just need a little more time,” said Stogsdill.

With Nagle signaling his agreement with Stogsdill’s statement, Svoboda quickly granted both parties another week despite contradicting her previous stance regarding if more time would be allotted.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, Stogsdill stated to The Daily World that she doesn’t hold any information about negotiations being discussed by Petersen and Nagle since she was only tasked with being a fill-in on the case. However, Stogsdill said Petersen’s absence from the last two hearings on the matter was “unexpected.”

It remains unclear if any negotiations are tied to the plea deal that Petersen told The Daily World was on the table in March. The offer, if accepted, would result in Bowers being sentenced to a maximum of 70 months in prison with potential good time credit for early release. She would also be forced to pay all restitution to the victims.

The new pre-trial conference for Bowers is slated to commence at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, April 17. Pending any new revelations from the pre-trial conference, trial readiness is still slated for April 24 and the trial would still begin on May 2 and conclude on May 5.

Contact Reporter Allen Leister at 360-463-3572 or allen.leister@thedailyworld.com