Aunt mourning loss of Sask. niece and nephew to tragic circumstances

It is every family’s nightmare to lose a child, but one southwestern Saskatchewan family is mourning the loss of two – in separate tragic circumstances within five months of each other.

Lisa Duperron fondly remembers her two-and-a-half year old nephew William Vayro, who died suddenly on December 18. Police say it is being considered a homicide.

“Will was a very cuddly, needy, affectionate baby. I wouldn’t say needy, but he loved to be held — you put him down and he wanted back up,” Duperron said.

William died in his Webb, Sask. home after being put down for a nap. It was exactly five months to the day after his sister Katrina drowned in a rain barrel.

Police are currently investigating. Following William’s death, police searched the family home for clues. No charges have been laid.

“We’re in the very early stages of a homicide investigation and it’s a very serious investigation,” Sgt. Paul Dawson from the RCMP said.

On the phone from Drayton Valley, Alta, Duperron remembers the day she returned her father’s call and heard the news William had died.

“I called him back and his girlfriend answers the phone,” Duperron said. “She says “˜There’s been another family emergency’, and I mean as soon as she said it, I knew, I’m like ‘It’s Will’.”

It brought back difficult memories of Katrina’s death, which police ruled accidental.

“Katrina was so busy,” Duperron said. “People thought she was underfed because she was so little, but it was because she was just always on the go.”

Social services will not comment on whether they are involved in the investigation.

“If the child or the family has had any contact with the ministry during the past twelve months, we will do our own thorough investigation ourselves to look at how the case was handled,” Louise Greenberg from the Ministry of Social Services said.

While police search for answers, a family continues to grieve another tragic loss.

“(They were) very, very happy kids,” Duperron said.