First-degree murder charge laid in Edmonton homicide of young boy

Edmonton – Detectives have laid first-degree murder charges against a woman for the homicide of a seven-year-old boy.

“We firmly believe we have enough evidence to show the death was premeditated,” says Staff Sargent Bill Clark of the EPS Homicide Section. “This investigation has been extremely hard on the family and everyone involved, for obvious reasons. It is rare that we are called to investigate the criminal death of a child.”

32-year-old Nerlin Sarmiento, seen in the photo below, has been charged with first-degree murder in the child’s death. It is believed Sarmiento is the mother of the seven-year-old boy. 

“The Edmonton Police service cannot confirm the relationship between the two, it falls under the FOIP (Freedom of Information and Protection) act for personal information, so we won’t be able confirm the relationship between the two,” explained Clair Seyler, a spokesperson for EPS.

EMS and police were called Tuesday morning to an apartment suite at 109 street and 53 Avenue. Police say a seven-year-old boy was found inside the suite. According to EPS, the boy appeared to have drowned.

“We responded to the apartment building you see behind me. The child was transported to the U-of-A hospital where he was pronounced dead,” said Acting Inspector, Malcolm Allan.

“I assumed it was an ambulance or whatever, you know. Quite often in the morning you’ll hear ambulance sirens and that, but I didn’t hear any noise in the building itself, you know. It’s pretty quiet usually and that’s what it was this morning,” said a neighbour who lives in the apartment building where the boy was found.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday afternoon, but a cause of death has not been released.

On Tuesday, police said they believed the 911 call was made by the boy’s mother. The father reportedly wasn’t at home when emergency responders arrived.

Global News has learned the victim’s father and sister are seeking assistance at Edmonton’s Zebra Child Protection Centre.

The victim was in grade two at a local public school. A spokesperson from Edmonton Public Schools says the principal is aware of the boy’s death, and a crisis team is being assembled, should students need to speak with a psychologist.

“When there’s the death of a student we have a critical response team that goes out, and that’s usually made up of psychologists, social workers, and counsellors and they support the school, watching for students that might be having some difficulties dealing with the news,” said Jane Sterling.

The court date for Sarmiento is scheduled for Friday morning.