Prineville, Ore. – A Crook County woman has been indicted on charges including manslaughter following the September 2025 death of a toddler at an unlicensed day care, which she’s accused of operating. Tralina Inez Fulton is scheduled to be arraigned on May 6 for the death of a 20-month-old toddler.
KTVZ News and the Prineville Review were the first to report that the child died after falling into a small livestock trough at Fulton’s residence, where authorities say she was unlawfully operating a day care facility. When emergency responders arrived at the home on Sept. 9, 2025, they discovered 14 children under Fulton’s care, exceeding state regulations for unlicensed providers.
A Crook County grand jury indicted Fulton on one count of second-degree manslaughter, one count of criminally negligent homicide, and one count of second-degree child neglect. She is currently out on a conditional security agreement after bail was set at $250,000. According to court records, the grand jury proceedings were conducted in March 2026 following the investigation into the child’s death.
On Sept. 9, 2025, emergency responders arrived at the residence and found 14 children in Fulton’s care. Several of the children were one year old. The Crook County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies performed life-saving measures and CPR on the child at the scene. The toddler was then airlifted to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, where he later died. Officers confirmed the child had fallen into a small animal trough located in the backyard of the property.
The Department of Early Learning and Care has launched a separate investigation into the operation, saying, “For licensed programs, we do have requirements related to safety around bodies of water for children.”
State law requires every child care provider to be licensed and subject to oversight when caring for young children. Officials stated they are currently working to identify and contact all parents who had children enrolled at the unlicensed facility. KTVZ News has reached out to the agency to see where they stand on their investigation.
Alicia Gardiner serves as the director of the state’s Child Care Licensing Division. She emphasized that licensed programs must adhere to stringent water safety requirements and undergo regular inspections. “We do inspect licensed facilities regularly to ensure the grounds and physical premises are a safe place for children,” Gardiner said.
State regulators are urging parents to research a facility’s license status and any reported violations through the state’s child safety portal. Every licensed day care in Oregon is required to display a physical copy of its license, and officials suggest parents request to see this document in person before enrolling their children.
Fulton is scheduled for arraignment and indictment on May 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The proceedings will be held before Judicial Officer Wade L. Whiting. State officials plan to post updates regarding the investigation on the child safety portal for public awareness.
