Foster mom not guilty of criminal negligence in tot's death, judge rules

Eunice Wudrich, the Aberdeen, Sask., woman who was accused of criminal negligence in the death of foster child Evander Daniels has been found not guilty.

In his decision, announced Friday afternoon in Saskatoon, judge Neil Gabrielson called the drowning death of the 22-month-old boy "a tragic and heartbreaking event".

The trial took place over the course of several days earlier in January.

"It's over. Did I really hear right?" Wudrich said moments after the judge's decision. "The truth came out."

Wudrich, 47, then broke down into tears and was seen hugging family members.

The woman had been caring for five foster children at the time of the boy's death in June 2010.

Court heard he was found partially submerged in a bathtub in the home. There was scalding hot water in the tub.

According to her lawyer, Wudrich was in the kitchen when the boy was in the tub. She was supervising four other foster children and her own daughter.

After the judge's decision, the child's father reacted with disappointment.

"I'm shocked and saddened," Chris Martell said. "Anything I say can't bring Evander back."

"It's a nightmare," he added. " I'm still waiting to get up. It's a total nightmare."

Aberdeen is about 40 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon