Homicide unit takes over investigation into death of three-year-old girl
CALGARY The death of a three-yearold girl earlier this month is being investigated now as a homicide, Calgary police say.
While the medical examiner has yet to officially rule Ivy Wick’s death on Oct. 5 as criminal in nature, Insp. Paul Wozney confirmed during a Wednesday news conference the investigation into the girl’s death has been taken over by the homicide unit.
“We are confident the homicide unit taking up this investigation is the appropriate unit to be addressing this matter,” he said.
“The injuries are consistent with a homicide.”
On Sept. 27, Wick was transported to hospital from her Rundlehorn Drive N.E. home after sustaining injuries in what her mother and boyfriend described as a fall.
Online fundraisers were established, soliciting donations and prayers on behalf of the critically injured girl.
She died a week later at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Right away, doctors were skeptical of claims that her injuries were caused by a fall, Wozney said.
“You can see very quickly the difference between injuries that are from a fall or if a child gets injured in the normal comings and goings that children get involved in,” he said.
“There’s no question that these injuries were significant, and led to her death.”
In addition, Wozney said descriptions of the girl’s condition posted on fundraising websites “in no way reflect” Wick’s actual injuries.
Initially investigated by the child abuse unit, the case was subsequently handed over to the homicide unit.
Wozney had no information on when the medical examiner would render a verdict in Wick’s death, which, if ruled a homicide, would be the city’s 21st of 2017.
“It’s still preliminary in their investigation,” he said.
“As is the case with the death of children, it often takes a little bit longer to get back results — sometimes it’s weeks, sometimes it’s months, we just have to be patient.”
Cases like these are always difficult ones for investigators, Wozney said.
“The investigators that are involved in this; every single one of them has children — some the same age as this girl, as young as Ivy,” he said.
“Sometimes we can put a filter on and block that out, and other times it’s very difficult … it’s often until after these events are investigated that it really hits them.
“We are doing our best to really find justice for this little person.”