Murder charges upgraded in six-year-old’s death

Girl died of blunt-force trauma

Murder charges in the death of a six-year-old girl have been upped to first-degree, bringing Meika Jordan’s mother to tears of relief.

The girl’s father, Spencer Jordan, and stepmother, Marie Magoon, were originally charged with second-degree murder after a lengthy investigation.

But on Tuesday, the Crown announced new information prompted the charges to be upgraded, leaving the accused facing a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted.

Meika’s mother, Kyla Guttman, and stepfather, Brian Woodhouse, say they’re relieved with the development.

“It’s very exciting in a way for us knowing there’s been some real progress being made,” Guttman said outside the Calgary Courts Centre.

“Most of the time in these situations you hear about things being downgraded and getting lesser charges and lesser sentencing,” she said, praising homicide investigators and Crown prosecutor Susan Pepper.

“It’s amazing knowing they’re working that hard for our little girl.”

Officers were initially called to the accused couple’s home in the 6700 block of Temple Drive N.E. on the evening of Nov. 13 after reports of an in- jured girl. Meika was taken to hospital and died the next day.

The explanation offered by the couple for the girl’s serious injuries didn’t match her wounds.

The death was deemed a homicide when an autopsy determined she had died as a result of multiple blunt-force trauma.

Investigators also discovered that Meika had sustained a severe third-degree burn to her hand and palm, and some other undetermined injuries prior to her death.

Facing Jordan and Magoon in the courtroom was painful, said Woodhouse.

“It’s always difficult. It’s one of those things the more time that goes by it should be easier, (but) the minute we see them walk into the courtroom it all comes back again. It’s increasingly difficult to still have to go through the process and know it’s still quite a ways away from being finished.” Guttman agreed. “It’s one of the most important things right now for everything that our little girl went through — for what she had to face and suffer for,” she said. “For us, this is our justice for her.”

A preliminary inquiry is scheduled Oct. 15.

Calgary Herald/files Marie Magoon and Spencer Jordan are now facing charges of first-degree murder in the death of Meika Jordan.

Calgary Herald/files Meika Jordan’s stepfather, Brian Woodhouse, and mother, Kyla Guttman, welcome the upgraded charges against the couple accused of killing the six-year-old girl.