Jeffrey Baldwin statue unveiled in Greenwood Park
Years after his tragic death, young Jeffrey Baldwin was again remembered with the unveiling of a memorial statue Saturday afternoon in Toronto's Greenwood Park.
The life-sized bronze statue sees Baldwin dressed up as Superman, an image familiar to anyone who followed the inquest into the boy's death.
Baldwin starved to death in 2002, just before his sixth birthday, while under the care of his grandparents. Both are now serving life sentences for second-degree murder.
During the inquest his father, Richard Baldwin, described the young boy's love of Superman, though the statue was arranged by a complete stranger in Ottawa.
Todd Boyce started an online campaign last year, raising more than $50,000 for the work by sculptor Ruth Abernathy.
"I just felt compelled after learning about what happened … how he was hidden away and abused," Boyce told CBC News. "I felt I needed to do something so he'd be remembered."
Jeffrey Baldwin’s grandmother denies responsibility in his death
Years after his tragic death, young Jeffrey Baldwin was again remembered with the unveiling of a memorial statue Saturday afternoon in Toronto's Greenwood Park.
The life-sized bronze statue sees Baldwin dressed up as Superman, an image familiar to anyone who followed the inquest into the boy's death.
Baldwin Inquest 20131008
Jeffrey Baldwin is shown in a Halloween costume in this undated handout photo released at the inquest into his death. (Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario/Canadian Press)
Baldwin starved to death in 2002, just before his sixth birthday, while under the care of his grandparents. Both are now serving life sentences for second-degree murder.
During the inquest his father, Richard Baldwin, described the young boy's love of Superman, though the statue was arranged by a complete stranger in Ottawa.
Todd Boyce started an online campaign last year, raising more than $50,000 for the work by sculptor Ruth Abernathy.
Baldwin inquest urges unifying child-protection agencies
Baldwin’s grandmother denies responsibility in his death
"I just felt compelled after learning about what happened … how he was hidden away and abused," Boyce told CBC News. "I felt I needed to do something so he'd be remembered."
todd-boyce-20141018
Todd Boyce of Ottawa started an online campaign last year, raising more than $50,000 for the Jeffrey Baldwin statue. (CBC)
DC Comics originally said it would not allow the Superman logo to be used on the statue, though the decision was soon reversed.
The inquest — aimed at determining what Ontario's child protection system could have done to save Baldwin's life — released 103 recommendations including a call for information sharing among agencies.
Baldwin's grandparents both had previous child abuse convictions — something the Catholic Children's Aid Society wasn't aware of until after Baldwin's death.