Saint Jerome couple facing negligence charges in death of newborn

Mathieu-Charles Mongrain and Sandra Laverdure are charged with criminal negligence and failing to provide the necessities of life after their 52-day-old daughter Magalie died in May. (Photo: Facebook)

A Saint Jerome couple has been sent to a detox centre awaiting trial in connection with the death of their newborn daughter.

Mathieu-Charles Mongrain, 27, and Sandra Laverdure, 30, were charged with failing to provide the necessities of life.

Police believe Laverdure was using meth during her pregnancy and while breastfeeding her child.

Laverdure was also charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death. She is currently six months pregnant.

The charges come after Magalie Mongrain was found dead on May 18, 2016.

The 52-day-old girl was found deceased after sharing a bed with her parents.

A coroner's report could not isolate a cause of death, saying it was possible the child was accidentally smothered by a parent while sleeping, but the girl also had traces of methamphetamine in her bloodstream.

Both Laverdure and Mongrain have criminal records for drug possession, while Mongrain also has prior charges for breaking and entering and mischief.

Breastfeeding expert Luisa Ciofani, a clinical nurse specialist at the MUHC, said crystal meth can linger in a baby's system when transmitted through breast milk.

"The drug that's been mentioned is methamphetamine and it lasts quite a long time in the baby's system, so even potentially one large dose might have an effect on the baby. The other thing we worry about with parents who use illicit drugs is their ability to judge," she said.

The couple will remain in the detox centre until their hearing next March.