Calgary parents charged in baby's death

Calgary police have charged the biological parents of a child who died last year.

Jennifer Clark, 38, and Jeromie Clark, 34, of north Calgary were arrested on Dec. 12, 2014. Both have been charged with criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life. 

The investigation started after 14-month-old boy was brought to a Calgary hospital by his parents on Nov. 28, 2013. The baby was treated but died the following day.

According to police, an autopsy later determined the cause of death to be a staph infection complicated by malnutrition.

Staff Sgt. Doug Andrus said in a news conference on Saturday that the investigation was long and complex.

“In regards to the autopsy, the anatomy of a child is different than that of an adult and there are tests that are conducted on an infant that aren’t conducted on adults and it can take time to get those results,” he said.

Andrus said investigators consulted with four medical specialists to help determine the cause of death.

He said the family followed a strict dietary regimen based on an extreme interpretation of a common religion, although he would not specify which one.

The child had also never been to a doctor in his short life and it appeared that the parents took steps to conceal his condition from other family members.

The couple are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 15.