A five-year-old boy who vanished from his home in the Hauser area of Coos County was found dead in nearby woods, barefoot and without clothing, two years ago — and now his estate is suing the state of Oregon and his mother for $17 million, alleging child welfare workers had repeated warnings about his home life and failed to act in time.
Joshua James McCoy disappeared from his home near North Bend on November 9, 2024, according to the lawsuit, and was found dead three days later on November 12 in timberland near his house. As Oregonlive reports, the suit lists the Oregon Department of Human Services and the boy's mother, Angela German, as defendants, and alleges that multiple child abuse hotline reports about Joshua's circumstances began six months before his death. The allegations within the suit remain unresolved in court; a lawsuit does not establish either defendant's legal responsibility for Joshua's death.
According to the lawsuit, as reported by That Oregon Life, Joshua had significant developmental and communication challenges and limited verbal ability, and state records describe him as autistic. He lived with his mother near North Bend, while his father, Lawson Amos McCoy, wrote about Joshua in a Facebook post. Joshua was expected to celebrate his sixth birthday that same month.
A Trail of Neglect Reports Before He Vanished
A report in May 2024 described food and unsanitary conditions in Joshua's home and alleged heavy drinking by German. The reports also described Joshua as extremely thin and said he sometimes went long periods without bathing, surviving largely on processed foods, sweets, and chocolate milk.
State workers attempted several home visits, but a caseworker concluded the conditions did not present an immediate safety threat. ODHS received another report describing ongoing home and caregiving concerns in July 2024; the neglect allegation was later deemed unfounded. The lawsuit alleges that child welfare authorities received warnings Joshua was frequently hungry throughout this period, and a former babysitter has described seeing his ribs and being concerned about his eating habits, as well as describing the home as filled with waste and alcohol containers.
Found Barefoot in the Woods Days Later
German told investigators she fell asleep during the day and discovered Joshua missing when she woke, and reportedly called a friend in Utah for assistance rather than immediately contacting local police; that friend then contacted Oregon authorities. A search involving multiple agencies and search-and-rescue personnel followed, and investigators initially examined the possibility of foul play. Court records described no scratches or significant dirt on Joshua's bare feet, according to Fox 12 Oregon reporting from December 2024.
Search crews found Joshua's body in the woods near his home on November 12, 2024, barefoot and without clothing. Accounts differ on exactly how far he was found from home: Oregonlive reported Joshua was discovered about 20 feet from a gravel forest road, while KPIC put the distance at approximately 1.6 miles from his residence and The News Tribune reported it as about two miles. Authorities reported that hypothermia contributed to his death. Investigators said digital evidence from Joshua's phone led them to reasonably believe he had walked away from the home while German was sleeping, according to The World. The lawsuit separately alleges that a phone video showed Joshua alone and distressed in the woods calling for his mother on the day he disappeared, though that claim has not been independently verified by news outlets. Joshua's mother has not been criminally charged in connection with his death.
During the search, authorities said they found moldy food, garbage, and duck droppings throughout the home, and investigators documented human feces on walls and ceilings.
What the State's Own Review Found
A state review found that child-welfare authorities had an estimated 20 instances of contact or attempted contact with German and people connected to her between May and July 2024. The state also planned to improve assignment of high-risk cases involving children with special needs or a parent moving out of state.
A separate internal review concluded there was no evidence the caseworker or supervisor acted negligently in their handling of the complaints against German.
Lawsuit Seeks $17 Million as State Stays Silent
Joshua's estate is represented by attorney Jimmy Healy, who has argued that ODHS had opportunities to intervene but failed to adequately protect Joshua. The lawsuit seeks $17 million in damages, though Oregon's statutory liability limits could restrict any recovery from the state to just over $5 million, according to Oregonlive. An ODHS spokesperson declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, and German could not be reached for comment, per the same outlet's reporting.
Anyone who suspects a child is in immediate danger is urged to call 911. The Oregon child abuse hotline can be reached at 855-503-SAFE (7233) 24 hours a day.
