(Posted 7:30 a.m., Aug. 14)
Police decide not to lay charges in pool death of Orléans toddler
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

After consulting with the Crown Attorney's office, the Ottawa police will not be laying charges in connection with the drowning death of a two-year-old boy at a home-based daycare in Fallingbrook.

Jérèmie Audette drowned after he fell into an above ground pool during a party attended by more than 20 kids from several home-based daycares in South Fallingbrook..

Although the home is owned by Wendy Lapierre, Audette was in the care of his babysitter at the time of his drowning. According to at least one report, the babysitter admitted to allowing Audette to go out of her sight for no less than five minutes.

The incident occurred shortly after 10:30 a.m. on July 28. Firefighters were on the scene with in minutes of receiving the 9-1-1 call. When they arrived, Lapierre was frantically trying to revive Audette using CPR. They took over and the young boy was rushed to CHEO, but never regained consciousness.

After carefully consulting with the lead investigator, the Crown Attorney's office decided that there were no legal grounds to charge Lapierre or the boy's babysitter for his death, although Lapierre could still be charged for breaching the Ontario Day Nurseries Act for having more than five children at her home during normal operating hours.

According to an article in the Ottawa Sun, the Audette family is upset that no charges will be laid in the death of their son.

Jérèmie Audette is one of six toddlers who have drowned in backyard pools in Ontario this summer. On Friday a 15-month old boy was rescued from the brink of death after he fell into a pool in Manotick. The young boy was unconscious and barely breathing when paramedics arrived, but they he managed to regain consciousness.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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