RCMP probe suspicious death of girl, 4

Manitoba RCMP are investigating the death of a four-year-old girl and serious injuries of two younger siblings in Long Plain First Nation due to their “suspicious nature.”

The children’s mother described her deceased daughter as a “beautiful baby girl full of life.” In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, the mother blamed Child and Family Services for inaction leading to the tragedy.

Around 7:45 a.m., paramedics called the Manitoba First Nations Police Service to a Long Plain residence for a report of a young child in medical distress with injuries, RCMP said in a news release on Tuesday.

Despite the combined efforts of paramedics and police to save the girl, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two other girls, ages one and two, were also found in the home, RCMP said. They were taken to Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg, the girls’ mother said.

One of the girls was in critical condition and the other was in stable condition, police said.

Both girls were reported to be in stable condition on Tuesday.

No charges have been laid, an RCMP spokesperson said Tuesday.

In her Facebook post, the mother alleged that the children were in the care of Child and Family Services when the incidents occurred, and that they had been malnourished and physically abused.

“I made reports when (her deceased daughter) had a black eye and bruises on video calls,” the mother said in the post. “CFS tried to reassure me that my children were fine, and I’m not even sure if they did a home visit to confirm or deny when I suspected abuse.”

She alleged her surviving children were “fighting for their lives” in the hospital and are being returned to her care.

“They are extremely malnourished as their sister was, have burn marks, bruises, and fractures throughout their bodies,” she said.

The woman said her daughter’s death and the toddlers’ injuries were preventable, but the system failed them.

A relative of the mother told the Sun that the family is from Waywayseecappo First Nation.

Waywayseecappo First Nation Chief Murray Clearsky declined to comment on the incident, saying the details of what happened are still under investigation.

Waywayseecappo Child and Family Services did not respond to the Sun’s request for comment.

RCMP would not confirm whether the children were involved with Child and Family Services.

Manitoba RCMP’s Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services have taken over the investigation with the assistance of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, police said.

“This is extremely troubling, and we know the community will be searching for answers as to what occurred within this household,” said Supt. Rob Lasson, the officer in charge of Major Crime Services.

He said he wants to reassure the community that investigators are working closely with Long Plain First Nation and the Manitoba First Nation Police Service.

“We extend our condolences to the family, the community and everyone affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Sherry Gott, Manitoba’s advocate for children and youth, said in a statement she’s aware of the incident and is reviewing information as it falls under the organization’s mandate to investigate cases of child death and serious injury.

Long Plain First Nation is located more than 100 kilometres east of Brandon. Waywayseecappo First Nation is about 150 kilometres northwest of the city.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com