35 year old man charged in death of toddler

Cold Lake RCMP charge man in homicide of child

RCMP investigators have arrested and charged a 35-year-old Goodfish Lake man in connection to the homicide of 16-month-old Veronica Poitras, of Cold Lake.

Sherman Robert Whitford (35), the boyfriend of the child’s mother, has been charged with one count of second degree murder.  He is scheduled to appear In Provincial Court in Cold Lake on October 25th, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.

Given that this matter is now before the courts, the RCMP will not be providing any additional details at this time.  Should the need arise to provide new information about this case, the RCMP will do so through an updated media release.

 

Background

September 8, 2017

Cold Lake RCMP investigating homicide of child

Cold Lake, Alberta –  RCMP investigators are continuing their investigation into the death of a 16-month-old Cold Lake girl after the results of an autopsy conducted last Wednesday determined that the manner of her death was homicide.

The child, Veronica Poitras*, was brought to the hospital in Cold Lake by a family member on the evening of Saturday, August 26, 2017.  The Cold Lake RCMP Detachment was advised of the situation at approximately 7:07 p.m. that same evening.  A short time later, Veronica was transported to a hospital in the Edmonton area for treatment, however, three days later she was taken off of life support and pronounced deceased on Tuesday, August 29.

The RCMP requests that anyone with information about this case call the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment.  In the event that callers wish to remain anonymous, they are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com.

 

August 30, 2017

Cold Lake RCMP investigating sudden death of child

Cold Lake, Alberta – Cold Lake RCMP Detachment and the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU) are investigating the sudden death of a 16-month-old girl who had been brought to the local hospital in Cold Lake on the evening of Saturday, August 26 and later transferred to an Edmonton area hospital where she died yesterday.

An autopsy is scheduled for today at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton.

The investigation into the suspicious death is ongoing, therefore, additional details will not be provided at this time.  New information will be made available through an updated media release.

The RCMP requests that anyone with information about this case call the Cold Lake RCMP Detachment.  In the event that callers wish to remain anonymous, they are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com.