A Calgary woman is going to jail for five-and-a-half years for the 2012 death of a toddler in her care.
Caitlin Jarosz pleaded guilty to manslaughter last November. Mackenzy Woolfsmith’s lifeless body was discovered in Jarosz’s private Mackenzie Towne dayhome on May 2.
Jarosz told emergency responders that the 22-month-old had fallen down two steps of carpeted stairs and flipped in the air. She was rushed to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, suffering from brain and spinal cord injuries. She died the next day.
It was later determined by the medical examiner that Woolfsmith died of multiple blunt force trauma; Jarosz was the only adult in the home at the time.
The sentence was part of a joint submission between the Crown prosecutor and defence, which the judge agreed to.
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It was an emotional day for Mackenzy’s parents, Jennifer and Dan Woolfsmith, who have waited four years for justice to be served.
“It’s the first time we’ve heard her speak,” Dan said. “It was nice to hear her speak, but at the end of the day we don’t have a daughter.”
“You have to keep in mind this is somebody we knew,” Jennifer said. “This isn’t just somebody that was a stranger to us that was speaking today, so obviously a lot of mixed emotions hearing her speak.”
Mackenzy’s father delivered a victim impact statement, telling the court the day his daughter died was the day his family lost a piece of their lives.
The convicted killer apologized Wednesday.
“I’m truly sorry for your loss,” said Jarosz, breaking down in tears.
“I really wish I could bring Mackenzy back to you. I accept full responsibility for what has happened.”
The Crown prosecutor said because there were no red flags and the convicted killer did not fully cooperate with investigators, it is very difficult for the parents to know what truly happened.
“Unless the accused is going to give us a blow-by-blow description, and we’re comfortable with that lining up with the medical evidence, we are always left with some unanswered questions,” Shane Parker said. “In this case, there seemed to be more, just simply because there was nothing to be able to predict that this was going to occur.”
Mackenzy’s parents said they agree with the sentence, adding they aren’t focused so much on the punishment, and wanted to be at court to honour their little girl.
With files from Bindu Suri, Melissa Ramsay and Carolyn Kury de Castillo
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