REGINA – The story continued to evoke pain and sadness for many families.
Six-year-old Lee Bonneau was tragically killed on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation in August 2013, allegedly at the hands of a ten-year-old boy. Both the boys and their families had been referred to social services several times in the past.
A two-week public inquest resulted in 19 recommendations.
The point of the proceedings wasn’t to find guilt or place blame, but rather to find out exactly how a six-year-old in foster care died at the hands of a 10-year-old with a troubled childhood who seemed to have fallen through the child welfare system’s cracks – and to stop it from happening again.
A jury of three men and three women heard heartbreaking testimony.
Lawyers representing six parties – including the ministry of social services, the Yorkton Tribal Council, the RCMP, the father of Lee Bonneau, the accused and his parents – questioned close to 30 witnesses.
Bonneau’s biological mother, Stacey Merk – was the first to take the stand on Easter Monday. Merk said she suffered from severe depression. She and Bonneau’s father were together for more than 12 years.
Merk began crying when she was asked about the day her son was placed in care: she said she was feeling overwhelmed that day and mistakenly told a social worker she felt suicidal.
“He definitely had issues and they needed to be dealt with immediately.”
Bonneau’s biological father, David, also took the stand. He accused social services of tearing his family apart.
On day two of the inquest, details from several months of contact between social services and the family of Lee Bonneau were detailed.
Mary Ramstead, Bonneau’s foster mother told the court that she and others frantically searched the area on the Kahkawistahaw First Nation after Bonneau went missing. She said she was sorry for bringing him with her that night.
Some of the first people to find the young boy dead told the court exactly what they saw. One testified a group of children relayed a story of a boy boasting that he had just beat up a little boy and crushed his head.
Forensic Testimony
The death inquest continued with testimony from a forensic pathologist who shed more light on the cause of death. Investigators described him as unresponsive.
The lead investigator into Bonneau’s death went over her work step-by-step including her dealings with the 10-year old responsible, referred to throughout the proceedings as “LT.”
She said he had no reaction when told Bonneau had died at his hands.
During interviews LT tried to blame an adult he knew, saying he only watched a man beat up Lee Bonneau.
A child protection worker was next to testify, saying she “just didn’t get around” to filing a proper case plan for Bonneau who was in foster care when he was killed.
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The issue of social workers overloaded with case work was also raised by Saskatchewan’s child advocate in a report released last year.
LT’s Troubled Childhood
The first day into the second week of the coroner’s inquest revealed some insight into LT’s troubled childhood.
The lead investigator into Bonneau’s death returned to the stand to outline police’s long list of interactions with him – stemming from when he was only three years old and witnessed his father assault his mother.
In 2009, officials received nine complaints relating to LT’s inappropriate sexual behaviour towards other kids.
Around a year later, LT was suspected of breaking into a neighbour’s home and killing a dog.
In 2012, his father was arrested and charged with assaulting him. That same year he witnessed someone being kicked in the face with steel toe boots.
In December an investigation into how to help LT was launched, but the day agencies involved with that investigation were expected to meet was the same day Lee Bonneau was killed.
“There were red flags going up, but I needed some professional help.”
Social Worker recommended LT see a psychiatrist
Day six of the coroner’s inquest began with two child protection investigators that had worked at separate times with LT; they testified they were deeply concerned about the child and that he needed help.
In December 2012, Pat Santo was brought in to investigate. Santo told the court he was concerned about LT’s mental state and referenced one instance in particular where he interviewed the child in 2013 and LT told him he was hearing voices of a man, woman and baby.
“He definitely had issues and they needed to be dealt with immediately,” Santo said.
Santo developed a safety plan and recommended LT see a psychiatrist, but told the court he didn’t always have access to all the information or support he needed to carry out his investigation.
“There were red flags going up, but I needed some professional help,” he said.
Santo said his workload was extremely heavy and interfered with carrying out his services.
The mother of the 10-year-old boy was visibly upset when she took the stand to testify. She described her son as playful and said that maybe family counselling would have helped deal with his troubles.
Court also heard that LT was diagnosed with full fetal alcohol syndrome in March of 2013 and had severe brain impairment.
It was recommended the family seek aid from support systems and that LT be highly supervised, but those supports were either not accessed by the family or available in the community.
After eight days of testimony, 27 witnesses, 23 exhibits, and five hours of deliberations the jury delivered their findings.
Among the 19 recommendations, the jury proposed:
- the Yorkton Tribal Council (YTC) – the organization responsible for children in care on reserves – develop an organized filing system;
- the YTC and the Ministry of Social Services both reevaluate protocols & mandatory training for foster parents;
- there be timely file sharing between the RCMP and all other parties involved in a child’s care; and
- there be better access to specialized mental health professionals in rural areas.
The recommendations are not legally binding.
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