Parents, stepsister charged in toddler’s death on Peguis First Nation

WINNIPEG – The family of a toddler who died of traumatic injuries in July 2014 was charged in her death on Tuesday.

The 21 month old girl, died at Percy E. Moore Hospital in Hodgson, Man., on July 17 after she was brought there with severe injuries. Her mom, dad and stepsister are all charged in connection with her death.

Her mom, 36, is charged with second-degree murder and failing to provide the necessities of life. Her dad, 33, is charged with manslaughter and failing to provide the necessities of life. Her stepsister, 20, is also charged with manslaughter and failing to provide the necessities of life. All three are being held in custody and are to appear in court on Thursday.

READ MORE: Toddler’s death at Peguis First Nation a homicide, police say

The little girl had been in the care of Child and Family Services, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross confirmed in July, shortly after her death. Irvin-Ross would provide no details of what form that involvement took.

Irvin-Ross at the time rejected comparisons to the murder of Phoenix Sinclair, 5, who was killed by her mother and stepfather in 2005 after spending most of her life in and out of foster care.

READ MORE: Toddler in Peguis homicide had contact with CFS: minister

“I’m not prepared right now to make that comparison. I think we need to get a lot more information and evaluation about what happened,” Irvin-Ross said in July.

Provincial officials did say in July that an internal review was being launched and that the children’s advocate had been asked to make the case a priority.