Edmonton parents charged after infant's death ruled homicide
The 25-day-old boy died from severe acute malnutrition and dehydration, according to the medical examiner.
EDMONTON · Edmonton police have charged a mother and father in the death of their 25-day-old infant, whose death has been ruled a homicide by the medical examiner. Lexi Tingley, 24, and Wolf Song Benson, 34, were taken into custody on Thursday and each face charges of failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing death. The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 4, 2025, when emergency crews responded to a report of an infant in medical distress in the Rundle Heights area of northeast Edmonton. The infant was transported to hospital where he later died.
Following an autopsy and extensive review, the Edmonton medical examiner determined the cause of death was severe acute malnutrition and dehydration. Police said the manner of death was ruled a homicide. The Edmonton Police Service homicide unit took over the investigation the day after the infant's death. The charges were formally laid by police on Monday, according to a police statement issued Friday.
Police detail timeline of events
Police said officers responded to a report of an infant in medical distress in the area of 33 Street and 116A Avenue on Feb. 4, 2025. The 25-day-old boy was taken to hospital where he died. The homicide section opened an investigation into the death the following day. The investigation culminated this week with the arrests of the infant's parents. On Nov. 5, police took the parents of the infant into custody. Both have since been charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing death. The charges against Tingley and Benson have not been tested in court.
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In its statement, the police service outlined the findings from the medical examiner. "Following an autopsy and extensive review, the Edmonton Medical Examiner has since determined that the cause of death was severe acute malnutrition and dehydration, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide," the Edmonton Police Service said. The police did not release any further details about the circumstances leading to the infant's condition. The force’s homicide section began an investigation into the death the following day after the infant passed away in hospital.
Charges carry significant penalties
The two charges laid against each parent are among the most serious in Canadian criminal law related to the duty of care. Failing to provide the necessaries of life is an offence under the Criminal Code that applies to anyone who has a legal duty to provide the basic necessities for a person under their care. Criminal negligence causing death is a more severe charge that requires proof of a marked and substantial departure from the standard of care a reasonable person would have provided. The parents of the newborn boy who died in Edmonton 21 months ago are now facing these criminal charges.
"Following an autopsy and extensive review, the Edmonton Medical Examiner has since determined that the cause of death was severe acute malnutrition and dehydration, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide."
Police did not specify any upcoming court dates for the accused in their Friday release. The investigation remains under the purview of the EPS homicide unit. The case highlights the legal obligations of parents and caregivers to provide basic sustenance and care to dependent children. Edmonton police say two people have been charged in the death of a 25-day-old infant. The EPS homicide unit took over the investigation, and an autopsy determined that the cause of death was severe acute malnutrition and dehydration, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
With files from CityNews, CBC News and Global News