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Man sentenced to life in prison for killing toddler

T-Jaye Heller. Courtesy of Facebook.
T-Jaye Heller. Courtesy of Facebook.

Editor’s Note: Corrections Canada announced on April 8, 2024, T-Jaye Heller, an inmate at the Bowden Institution, died in custody.

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CALGARY- The Medicine Hat man who killed a toddler has been sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 18 years.

34-year-old T-Jaye Heller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his former girlfriend’s two-year-old son back in June 2011.

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The boy was being cared for by Heller, when emergency crews were called to a Medicine Hat home and found the child suffering trauma to the head. Court heard that Heller cleaned up the crime scene, before calling 911 and never told the dispatcher or paramedics what happened to the boy.

The Crown had asked for 20 to 25 years without parole, while the defense asked for 14 to 15. On Thursday, court heard victim impact statements from the child’s parents, and reviewed evidence that would have been heard at Heller’s trial, had he not plead guilty.

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Heller also apologized for the pain he has caused the family.

He was originally charged with first-degree murder, sexual assault and interfering with human remains.

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