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A Morinville toddler, age 21 months, died March 3rd, 2010.

The child was the surrounding Edmonton area's third homicide victim of the year.

The child's primary foster mother was charged with second-degree murder.

On March 1st, 2010 a 21-month-old Morinville-area child was brought to an Edmonton hospital. She died two days later.

After the completion of a post-mortem examination, RCMP announced the matter was being investigated as a homicide.

The child, who was in foster care, could not be identified. Cause and manner of death was also withheld.

However, the child's biological family told media the matter was possibly a case of shaken baby syndrome. They made the claim after doctors told them the girl suffered severe brain damage and had died after being taken off life support at the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

The family also revealed the toddler had been in provincial care for about two months because her mother was dealing with health issues.

It later emerged that the 21-month-old girl was apparently shuttled between her regular foster home and a second "respite" home in the days before her death. Three sets of adults were said to be involved.

In addition to the police investigation, Alberta's Department of Children and Youth Services said they too would be looking into the case.

"It's a very tragic situation and it's heartbreaking," department minister Yvonne Fritz said.

Fritz was new to the post, the result of a cabinet shuffle eight weeks prior, taking over from Janis Tarchuk – read more »

"We did have a child under the age of two who was in our care from the Edmonton area, and they were hospitalized and has since died.

"We don't know the cause of the child's death at this time and we can't speculate on the cause of death, either," Fritz said.

"It is very heartbreaking when any child is in a life-threatening situation and our thoughts are with this child's family – that is our foster family and this child's biological family.

"This is a very difficult time for our caregivers and support workers and the people who have been involved."

Fritz ordered the investigation as soon as the toddler arrived in hospital.

"This investigation will be very thorough," she said.

"It began when this child was hospitalised. It used to be that we did a case review following the police investigation, which could be a year at times or longer, and this investigation that I've directed is immediate."

Fritz said she expected the results of her own department's investigation within eight to 10 weeks and would act on any recommendations in that report "immediately."

"We will be reviewing the policies, the procedures, the standards. We'll be looking at absolutely every support that we ensured was in place for this foster family and for this child," she said.

"We have to know what happened, right from the minute the child came into care. We need to know what happened, and we have the right to know.

"It's very important to know if we had the proper supports in place," Fritz said.

"Right now, we don't know what happened. It's important to make the right decisions based on the right information. It's just a very complex, complicated situation."

The terms of Alberta's Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act dictate that the identity of the girl, her biological parents, and her foster family, cannot be made public.

Fritz wouldn't say if the results of her inquiry would be made public.

"Right now, it's an internal investigation," she said.

Privacy legislation prevented the minister from disclosing how long the foster parents were in the system, or if there were other foster children residing in the home at the same time.

After EMS were first called to the Morinville home, local RCMP opened a file looking into the severe injury of a child.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes told media the criminal investigation began when they were told the child was likely to die.

The Morinville detachment was then assisted by investigators from the Edmonton RCMP Serious Crimes Branch.

At a news briefing, Oakes would not reveal the cause of death, terming it a "holdback" for investigative purposes.

"While the manner of death has been determined to be a homicide, the cause of death is not being released at this time," Oakes said.

"In all likelihood, it would only be known to the person or persons responsible," he explained.

Despite the death being labelled a homicide, no one was in custody and charges had not been laid.

"We do not believe anyone in the general public is at risk in direct relation to this tragic loss of life."

Investigators appeared to be taking their time in handling the sensitive matter.

"Investigators would be interested in looking at all aspects, anyone who may have had recent contact, anything that may indicate circumstances that were involved in this death," Oakes said.

Those with any information about the case were asked to contact Morinville RCMP at 780-939-4550, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.tipsubmit.com

Tips can also be text messaged. In Edmonton, text TIP250 + message and send to CRIMES (274637). In Northern Alberta, text TIP205 + message and send to CRIMES (274637).

A source close to the matter told the Edmonton Journal up the three sets of adults had been supervising the child.

"It's a complex case," said the source. "I think the RCMP will have to do a lot of work ... I think a lot of people came in contact with this child."

Department of Children and Youth Services spokesman Stuart Elson would not confirm how many adults cared for the girl in the days before her death.

Morinville is about 30 kilometres north of Edmonton.

Person arrested

On May 28th, 2010 RCMP announced that an adult was arrested in connection with the death of the 21-month-old toddler.

Police said they anticipated that charge(s) would be sworn over the next few days and that additional information might be provided on May 31st.

They also indicated their investigation remains ongoing.

Yvonne Fritz, the minister of Children and Youth Services, was unavailable for comment on the day of the RCMP announcement. Department spokesman Trevor Coulombe declined to say if there was any connection or relationship between the person in custody and the dead girl.

"It feels inappropriate at this time to provide information other than what the police have released, out of respect for the investigation," he said, adding the department may comment if and when charges are officially laid.

On May 31st RCMP announced that the adult arested was charged with second-degree murder. The person made a brief appearance in Edmonton Provincial Court the same day.

Police said no details concerning the charged adult would be released due to the provisions of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act in order to protect the identity of the deceased child.

However, Alberta Children and Youth Services spokesman Trevor Coloumbe confirmed the person arrested was the toddler's primary foster mother.

Coulombe declined to say how long the child had been living with the foster family, how long the family had been fostering, or whether there were other children living in the home.

"I can't speak to case specifics," Coulombe said.

The woman remains in custody without bail and was set to make her next court appearance on June 24th. The Edmonton judge moved the case back to Morinville.

Children and Youth Services minister Yvonne Fritz later welcomed news of the charge.

"The passing of this child has been a very serious tragedy and I'm pleased police have laid charges," she said.

CBC Edmonton was first to identify 34-year-old Christine Ann Laverdiere as the woman charged.

The broadcaster reported the child had only been living with Laverdiere for several weeks before being put into temporary respite care for an unknown reason.

The CBC also said Laverdiere had been a foster parent for less than two years and had two other children in her care at the time of the toddler's death: her own three-year-old daughter and an eighteen-month-old foster son.

All the information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site.
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deadmonton 2010 - morinville toddler