Homicide unit probes death at unlicensed day home

Calgary police are turning to the public to assist an investigation into the sudden death of a child at an unlicensed Deer Run day home last June.

A 21-month-old girl was found not breathing when police arrived at the home, located on Deerview Drive S.E., following a report of an unresponsive child at the residence. The girl was transported to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Homicide unit investigators now want to talk with anyone who had a child attend the day home prior to June 28. No charges were laid following the incident. At the time, police said the child’s death was medical in nature.

But Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm said new information was later reported to police, prompting concerns.

“We didn’t have any concerns with respect to the investigation at that point. A week or two after that incident, somebody came forward with some information in relation to the day home and the day home provider, which caused us some concern,” he said.

“We have concerns with respect to the way the child may have died.”

The girl, who did not live at the day home, was being cared for by the provider. The day home was unlicensed and is no longer in operation. The operator no longer lives at the residence.

Chisholm said the day home had been operating for “a number of months” prior to the child’s death and that police had never visited it beforehand.

He declined to identify the day home by name, but said police have remained in contact with the operator. He added that approximately 20 to 40 children may have been at the day home over a number of months before it shut down.