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A four-year-old girl died of cranial trauma on January 13th, 2009.

The child was determined to be Edmonton's third homicide victim of the year.

A 24-year-old woman was charged with second-degree murder, criminal negligence causing death, and failing to provide the necessities of life.

Police waited over two weeks for word from the medical examiner to learn the death of a four-year-old girl was criminal in nature. They then laid a charge of second-degree murder against the child's aunt.

Emergency medical staff were first called January 13th, 2009 to a home near 167th Street and 81st Avenue after a report of a child suffering cardiac arrest came in.

Paramedics then called police at about 8:30 a.m. They in turn called the medical examiner.

"We haven't concluded either way if this is a criminal incident or if it is in fact a medical incident," a police spokesman said. "That's the advice that the medical examiner would be able to offer."

Two adults, described variously as caregivers or extended family, four other children and one infant were reported to be living in the home. They were removed from the residence and all were interviewed by Edmonton police and their Child at Risk Response Team.

The child was found in her bedroom. Insp. Greg Alcorn said her parents did not live at the house and that the adults were "hysterical" after the discovery was made.

"The caregivers at this residence are just distraught," Alcorn said.

While details were few police did say they considered the death of a what was then thought to be a five-year-old as unusual, prompting officers to treat the matter as a suspicious death.

"It's just precautionary. There's nothing to suggest that there's anything untoward about this event at all. Bottom line is we have a five-year-old child who has passed away and we just don't know what caused that at this time," Alcorn stated.

The child had no obvious signs of major trauma, Alcorn added. "At first glance, it could be a number of things."

Up to that point homicide detectives were not involved in the matter.

Area residents said the family had just moved in early in the fall – read more »

Police maintained a presence at the home for several days to ensure continuity of evidence pending the outcome of the autopsy.

The sight of a police forensics truck parked out front caused some neighbours to speculate that the matter was indeed serious.

"It's just that forensics has been there so long," one woman said.

Results of the autopsy were inconclusive and further toxicology tests were ordered.

Charges laid

On January 29th, 2009 police announced they had laid charges of second-degree murder, criminal negligence causing death, and failing to provide the necessities of life against a 24-year-old woman in connection with the death of the four-year-old girl.

Extensive autopsy testing determined the child died of cranial trauma. The woman charged was the four-year-old's aunt.

On January 28th investigators had received word from the medical examiner's office and interviewed the woman. She was arrested and charged the next day and remains in custody.

"The injuries were complex and they had to do further testing," a police spokesman said. "Sometimes that testing takes a bit longer."

Although details were not revealed, it was confirmed no toxicology tests were required.

Reports indicated the woman's boyfriend was living in the home at the time of the death.

"It would be fair to say that this investigation is continuing," the spokesman added.

As the Crown prosecutor's office was applying for a publication ban, police did not release the names of the child or the accused.

Because the four-year-old was placed in the home by the Region 10 Métis Settlements Child and Family Services, a provincial government agency, the child cannot be identified under provisions of Alberta's Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.

The woman's name was withheld to protect the child's identity.

First court appearance

The 24-year-old woman made her first court appearance on January 30th.

Crown prosecutor Rob Beck immediately asked for a 30-day adjournment as police had yet to forward all of the evidence in the case.

However, defence lawyer Tom Engel disgreed with the request, saying he wanted to speed up the process for his client so she could apply for bail.

Provincial Court Judge Robert Philp decided on February 20th as the woman's next court date.

CTV Edmonton's coverage of the four-year-old's death can be seen here, here and here.

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deadmonton 2009 - four-year-old girl