Kingston mother now charged with 2nd-degree murder in child neglect case

A Kingston, Ont., mother has now been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a case of child neglect after a baby was found dead and his older brother abandoned in a squalid apartment.

The boys were discovered by a child services worker who visited the home on Russell Street around 1:55 p.m. on May 31, according to police.

When first responders pulled the surviving three-year-old from the apartment he was naked and had feces on his feet, the building's superintendent told CBC at the time.

His seven-month-old brother was already deceased, according to investigators.

Police have not confirmed how long the children had been left alone, but their father previously told CBC it was "at least four or five days."

Their mother was later located about 45 kilometres away in Napanee, Ont., and arrested.

Under Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act, CBC cannot report details that could identify the woman or her kids.

The 32-year-old was initially charged with two counts of abandoning a child under 10 years old, failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing death.

Infant dead, toddler severely dehydrated in Kingston, Ont.

6 months ago

Duration 2:18

A 32-year-old woman faces multiple child neglect charges after police found a dead baby and a frightened, severely dehydrated toddler in a squalid Kingston, Ont., apartment. CBC News has learned the children may have been abandoned for days.

In a media release Monday — five months after the arrest — Kingston Police announced that following further investigation by the major crime unit, the criminal negligence charge had been upgraded to second-degree murder.

The woman, who was already in custody, was handed the new charge Sept. 27.