Dayhome operator charged in death of toddler

CTV Calgary: Charges laid in toddler's death A dayhome operator is facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of a toddler in her care. Elissa Carpenter reports.

A woman has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 21-month-old girl at a southeast dayhome in 2012.

On May 2, 2012, Mackenzy Woolfsmith was critically injured in an incident at a dayhome in the 0-100 block of Elgin Heath S.E.

The little girl died from her injuries the next day.

Earlier this year, Calgary police deemed her death suspicious based on new medical evidence and a lack of co-operation from the individual with exclusive opportunity to Mackenzy.

On Tuesday, police arrested Caitlin Jarosz at her job at a local gas bar.

She has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the child’s death.

"I will be seeking interim judicial release as soon as possible. She has not absconded, she stayed around. She's got family support. She's got great support systems in place and so we'll be fighting this thing out," said defence attorney, Alain Hepner.

Police said that the toddler’s injuries were inconsistent with a short or accidental fall down a set of stairs and the investigation was taken over by the CPS Major Crimes Section because of the nature of the little girl’s injuries.

The Office of the Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was multiple, blunt-force trauma.

Hepner says his client has no criminal history and is distraught over the charges.

"She is now arrested at work, where she was working at a gas bar and arrested by the Calgary Police Service and taken downtown and charged with second-degree murder so you can imagine how she feels," said Hepner.

Jarosz remains in custody and will appear in Provincial Court on Thursday.

(With files from Elissa Carpenter)