Chris's Crime Forum

This is so disturbing

Manitoba children involved with Child and Family Services who have been killed since mid-2005

Phoenix Sinclair, 5

Died June 11, 2005, but wasn’t discovered until March 2006. Phoenix was in and out of foster care most of her life. In 2005, she was living with her mom, Samantha Ke­match, and her mother’s common-law boyfriend, Karl McKay, in Fisher River.

Despite allegations of abuse, Winnipeg CFS closed Phoenix’s case just a few months before she died from repeated beatings, neglect and confinement in a basement. McKay and Kematch were convicted of first-degree murder last fall.

Roanna Meagan Fontaine, 14

Died June 24, 2007 while in the care of Peguis CFS.

Roanna was found dead outside a North End residence following a party. According to a source, an incident involving an older man left the 14-year-old so distraught that she jumped from a sixth-floor balcony. Fontaine and her 16-year-old sister were on a weekend visit to Win­nipeg to attend the Red River Ex. Her death prompted many in Peguis to slam their local branch of Child and Family Services, saying that despite repeated warnings the girl was at risk, the agency did nothing.

Gage Guimond, 2

Died July 22, 2007 while in the care of Sagkeeng CFS.

Gage and his sister were taken from their mother and sent to live with an experienced foster family shortly after Gage’s first birthday. In the winter of 2007, he was moved from that fos­ter home to live with his grandmother, who warned CFS workers she wasn’t able to care for him, and where he was neglected. He was eventually placed with his great aunt, Shirley Guimond, where he died six weeks later from severe head trauma. Shirley Guimond has been charged with manslaughter.

Fonessa Lynn Louise Bruyere, 17

August 30, 2007 while in the care of Sagkeeng CFS. At the time of her killing, Fonessa had been in and out of foster care. The system returned Fonessa to a family member’s home less than three months before she died, despite allegations she would be exposed to drugs and prostitution. Fonessa struggled with drugs and the sex trade before her body was found in a field on the outskirts of Winnipeg. No one has been charged with her death.

Samuel Luke Maytwaywashing, 5 months

Died March 26, 2008 while in the care of Anishinaabe CFS. Samuel died in his Lake Manitoba reserve home of what his mother said was pneumonia. But sources said the infant was dehydrated, had a high fever and was possibly malnourished. His four siblings were seized just before Samuel was born but he was left in his mother’s care.

Cameron Ouskan, 13 months

Died Nov. 13, 2008 while in the care of Awasis CFS.

Cameron was living in a foster home in Gillam when he died. RCMP said they believe Ouskan’s death was a homicide. The chief medical examiner said he had multiple fractures when he died.