Traffic stop in Yelm leads to arrest of suspect wanted in connection to death of child last year

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders announced on Facebook on Monday, Oct. 19, that the suspect wanted in connection to the death of a five-year-old child last year has been arrested in Yelm after a traffic stop for a “minor violation.”

Kyler W. Lawrence was wanted on a felony warrant for first degree manslaughter after a five-year-old boy died from acute fentanyl toxicity in March 2025. The child’s mother was arrested on manslaughter charges in May of 2025, but his father, Kyler, fled the scene before law enforcement arrived and probable cause could not be established, according to Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).

New information was obtained, and PCSO shared on Tuesday, Oct. 13, that Lawrence was wanted on charges of first degree manslaughter for the death of his child.

Sanders shared that during the evening hours of Sunday, Oct. 18, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) stopped a vehicle in the Yelm area for driving without a license plate. During the stop, an officer noticed a passenger in the vehicle allegedly had drugs next to him and was removed from the vehicle for questioning.

While being questioned, the passenger provided a false name but was later identified as Lawrence, the suspect wanted out of Pierce County for the death of a child.

PCSO responded to the scene and extradited the suspect into Pierce County Jail.

According to Sanders, the suspect will also be referred for charges in Thurston County of drug possession and criminal impersonation in the first degree.

A second passenger in the vehicle had warrants out for her arrest from Yelm Police Department (YPD) and was found to be armed with a concealed loaded firearm without a permit. She was placed under arrest and taken to jail, according to Sanders.

Sanders noted the driver of the vehicle was found to be driving with a suspended license, leading to the vehicle being impounded.

“Exemplary proactive police work led to the capture of this suspect less than a week after the BOLO was posted in an effort to help Pierce County Sheriff’s Office seek justice for this child,” Sanders wrote.