Foster boy died of cranial trauma: autopsy

Foster mother charged

By BROOKES MERRITT -- Edmonton Sun

A three-year-old child police alleged was murdered by his foster mother died of cranial trauma, says Edmonton’s medical examiner’s office, following an autopsy.

The boy and his foster mother cannot be named due to privacy legislation.

Edmonton police were notified by EMS Friday morning after the critically-injured boy was rushed to Stollery Children's hospital.

The child died of his injuries late Saturday night, and police charged his 32-yer-old foster mother with second-degree murder, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, failure to provide the necessities of life and child abandonment.

The woman was a part-time instructor at Grant MacEwan college but has since been “relieved of her duties,” say staff.

She is a single mother and reportedly had three other children, including a second foster child, in her care.

The toddler’s death has sparked an investigation into the foster care system by Alberta's children's services minister Janis Tarchuk.

Edmonton and Area Child and Family Services is also conducting an internal review into what happened.