Friends are defending an 18-year-old mother of a slain newborn baby whose death is being investigated by homicide detectives.
Police have ruled the death of Daniel Herchak — who was 26 days old — a homicide.
The infant’s mother, Shelby Herchak, 18, was inside her family’s Lakeview home when relatives called 911 early Monday morning, police confirmed.
The child was taken by ambulance to Alberta Children’s Hospital, where staff notified the police’s child abuse unit.
When Daniel died that afternoon, homicide detectives took over. Police were stationed outside the southwest home as investigators awaited autopsy results.
Tuesday’s autopsy revealed the newborn died of blunt-force trauma.
No weapons were recovered from the southwest home, police say.
The three-week-old child did not suffer from pre-existing health problems, police confirmed Thursday.
Herchak is a former Central Memorial high school student, as well as a recent student at the Louise Dean Centre during her pregnancy.
The baby’s biological father, who police say is estranged from Herchak, is not a suspect, but police say they want to talk to him.
The teen mother and family are co-operating with investigators, said homicide Staff Sgt. Doug Andrus. Police said it’s too early to say if charges will be laid or if Herchak is a suspect.
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They do say, however, that the newborn baby’s death is “non-accidental.”
“It’s a complex investigation and
we’re still in the initial stages. It’s a very sensitive and complex investigation,” said Andrus.
Herchak’s Facebook page features a black and white photograph of a newborn infant being cradled in hands. Words imposed over top say: r.i.p. Daniel Wayne Herchak. July 14th 2010-august 9th 2010. celebration of Life <3.
The night before the baby died, Herchak posted a Facebook wall conversation on a friend’s page urging her to meet up at a Macleod Trail nightclub, the Back Alley.
Her friend thanks Herchak hours later for “an awesome night.”
The next morning, the same friend wrote an update declaring the baby had died after suffering “a seizure.”
Family members declined the Herald’s requests for an interview.
Friends are defending Herchak on their Facebook pages.
“Kay so everyone needs to leave Shelby alone!!! She did NOT murder her son, and she was a really great mom!” wrote Laurilie Amy Eeckhout.
On Thursday, a homemade sign written in ballpoint pen was attached to the Logan Crescent home’s front door, reading: “No comment please leave the property.”
Herchak also posted a response on Facebook defending herself, saying the news of a homicide investigation being publicized was ” untrue.”
The case is Calgary’s 10th homicide of 2010.
szickefoose@theherald.canwest.com
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