Inquest called into death of Katelynn Sampson

Nearly four years after she died an inquest will be held into the circumstances surrounding the death of Katelynn Sampson.

The coroner responsible for Toronto, Dr. David Eden, said in a news release on Friday that "[t]he inquest will examine the events surrounding Katelynn's death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths."

Katelynn was seven years old when she died in a Parkdale apartment on Aug. 3, 2008.

Police were called to an apartment at 105 West Lodge Ave., where they found the little girl with obvious signs of trauma. Veteran officers described her injuries as the worst they had ever seen.

An autopsy revealed 70 external and internal injuries including bruising, contusions, abrasions, lacerations and fractures to virtually every part of Katelynn's body. The medical report said the injuries were so severe it would have made it painful to move her lips, talk, eat or drink.

Katelynn's guardians, Donna Irving and Warren Johnson, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges earlier this year and were sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.

The girl ended up in the care of Irving and Johnson because her mother, Bernice Sampson, had given her friend Irving custody of her little girl while she tried to get her life in order.

The coroner's office did not announce the date, location or who the presiding coroner will be. 

The news release says that information will be released at a later date.