Charges have been laid against a Calgary woman in the death of a child who went into medical distress in a car seat inside an unlicensed dayhome last winter.
Elmarie Simons, 57, is charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death. She continued to operate the Silverado dayhome until she was arrested Wednesday, police said.
Eighteen-month-old Ceira Lynn McGrath died Nov. 12, 2015 after she was rushed to hospital from the dayhome. It’s alleged Ceira was in Simons’ care when she died.
READ MORE: Calgary police investigate dayhome death of toddler Ceira McGrath
Ceira’s father Ryan McGrath previously said he was told his daughter had been put in a car seat inside the dayhome because she was being fussy. He said he was told she either slipped down in the seat or became entangled in the strap and choked.
“We believe the infant went into medical distress after being left unattended in a car seat for a prolonged period of time,” Staff Sgt. Doug Andrus said Thursday, who added there were two other children in the dayhome at the time, including Ceira’s brother.
Watch below: Global’s past coverage of the case
Ceira and her twin brother, Colby, had attended the dayhome since May of 2014, according to McGrath.
“It is with a very heavy heart, and many deep emotions we found out today everything our family has believed about the death of our perfectly healthy little Ceira was sadly confirmed,” McGrath said in a statement sent to Global News Thursday.
“Although we don’t have all the answers yet at this stage, this type of cruelty towards an innocent vulnerable child is unthinkable,” said the statement.
McGrath said he was grateful to the police for officers “tireless work” and are looking forward to justice in the case.
“Our trust was ultimately betrayed … We only hope if convicted [the accused] can own up…instead of citing nonsense like ‘only God knows what happened,’ and suggesting this was ‘just an accident.’”
In a November 2015 interview, Simons told Metro News Ceira’s death was the “hardest thing in her life” and that she’d put the girl in the car seat to sleep.
“I don’t know, maybe she struggled and choked, it’s the saddest thing,” she told Metro. “It’s an accident, only God knows why it happened…Why would I ever hurt a child? It’s sickening and it wouldn’t benefit me at all.”
Global News has reached out to Simons for comment and will update this story upon hearing back.
Andrus said police protocol requires the homicide unit gets involved in all sudden deaths involving infants two years old or younger.
“In this case, during the course of our investigation, we received information that raised concerns regarding the level of care prior to going into medical distress and being transported to the hospital,” Andrus said.
The investigation is ongoing, police said Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or the Homicide Unit Tip Line at 403-428-8877. Tips can also be left anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Andrus emphasized parents should do their “due diligence” before placing children in the care of both licensed and unlicensed dayhome facilities. He suggested speaking with other parents and asking operators for references.