Northern Ontario couple charged in their baby girl's 2022 death
A northern Ontario couple has been charged in the death of their three-month-old baby girl who was found in September 2022 with no vital signs.
Jeffrey and Michelle Doonan of King Kirkland are charged in the death of their three-month-old baby girl on Sept. 3, 2024. (Oct. 22, 2019)
Jeffrey Doonan, 32, was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder in the case.
He and his wife, 33-year-old Michelle Doonan, are also charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide necessaries of life, Ontario Provincial Police said in an update Wednesday.
The allegations against the mother allegedly occured between May 16 and Sept. 3, 2022, court documents obtained by CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca show.
The couple is from King Kirkland, a community about six kilometres east of Kirkland Lake.
OPP officers from the Temiskaming detachment were called to help paramedics at a home on Chamberlain Road 5 in Chamberlain Township around 4 p.m. Sept. 3, 2022.
The baby, who police confirmed was female, was taken to hospital with no vital signs and later pronounced dead.
Michelle and Jeffrey Doonan's three-month-old daughter Violet was found at a home with no vital signs on Sept. 3, 2022.
No word on the cause of death.
"That’s for the coroner to speak on, not police," OPP Const. Phil Young told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an email.
CTV News has reached out to the coroner's office asking it to confirm the infant's cause of death and is awaiting a reply.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
"A thorough investigation was conducted by the Temiskaming OPP crime unit under the direction of the OPP criminal investigation branch, with assistance from the OPP northeast region support team and OPP forensic identification services, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service," police said.
The couple remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Haileybury on Nov. 13.
"Anyone with any information relating to this investigation is asked to call the Temiskaming OPP at 1-888-310-1122," police said.
"Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000."
The charges have not been proven in court.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Jubilation and gunfire as Syrians celebrate the end of the Assad family's half-century rule
Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, putting an end to the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule but raising questions about the future of the country and the wider region.
Most Canadians would avoid buying U.S. products post-Trump tariff: Nanos survey
A majority of Canadians would be hesitant to buy U.S. goods in response to the proposed American tariff on products from Canada, according to a new survey.
Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, shortly after a meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders, claiming Kyiv 'would like to make a deal' to end the more than 1,000-day war.
Canadians turn domestic for holiday travel, with weak loonie discouraging U.S. trips
After turning abroad for holiday vacations last year, more Canadians are keeping their travel plans in-country this Christmas season due to squeezed budgets, lower domestic fares and a decisive end to the post-pandemic boom in overseas travel — and now a slumping currency.
Renovations underway to return one of the last Quonset-style theatres in Canada back to former glory
Community members in the small town of Coleman, Alta. are eagerly waiting for the grand re-opening of the historic Roxy Theatre now that renovations have started.
Search for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer yields evidence, but few answers
As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma.
More than 900 people died in Jonestown. Guyana wants to turn it into a tourist attraction
Guyana is revisiting a dark history nearly half a century after U.S. Rev. Jim Jones and more than 900 of his followers died in the rural interior of the South American country.
MP Jamil Jivani meets U.S. vice president-elect amid Trump's tariff threats
A Conservative member of Parliament has tapped a longtime friendship to connect with Donald Trump's inner circle as Canada prepares for the president-elect’s return to the White House next month amid threats of devastating tariffs.
Superior Court authorizes class action against junior hockey league over abuse of minors
The Quebec Superior Court authorized the institution of a class action aimed at compensating all minors who suffered abuse while playing in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Barrie
-
Driver charged after passing snow plow in front of oncoming OPP vehicle
A driver was pulled over and charged after passing a snow plow in front of an oncoming OPP vehicle.
-
One dead in three-vehicle crash
Police are investigating a three-vehicle overnight collision in Caledon, which resulted in the death of one driver.
-
OPP make arrests in three impaired driving incidents in one night
Three drivers are facing multiple charges after OPP responded to three different reported impaired driving incidents in the same night in Orillia.
Toronto
-
Ontario saw the highest number of whooping cough cases in the last 17 years: report
The number of whooping cough cases in Ontario this year has reached a level that hasn't been seen in 17 years.
-
Car crash sends at least 2 to hospital and leaves debris on Mississauga Road
At least two people were taken to the hospital after their vehicle crashed into a pole near Winston Churchill Boulevard at Derry Road overnight.
-
Three people taken to hospital after triple shooting in downtown Toronto
Toronto Police are on the scene of shooting that has sent three people to the hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ottawa
-
Slushy road conditions, rain showers or flurries in the forecast for Ottawa this Sunday
Attention pedestrians and drivers! Roads are slushy in Ottawa, though the periods of snow are ending this Sunday morning.
-
Ottawa gets in the festive spirit with residents flocking Christmas markets
With Christmas Day just three weeks away, hundreds made their way out to enjoy all the festivities the Ottawa has to offer.
-
NEW THIS MORNING
NEW THIS MORNING How to make your home holiday-ready
It's officially the holidays and many are looking to create a festive and memorable holiday home.
Kitchener
-
Chicopee says ski season still a few weeks away
Even though it looks like a winter wonderland outside, skiers and snowboarders will have to wait a few more weeks to hit Kitchener’s slopes.
-
Police seek tips in Waterloo break-in
Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a break-and-enter at a Waterloo business.
-
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
London
-
Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situation
Londoners continue to dig themselves out from this week’s massive snowstorm.
-
Want to become the next LHSC Auxiliary volunteer? Here’s how
The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) Auxiliary is recruiting new members.
-
Cookie inflation: How much more is your holiday baking costing you this year?
Estimate how much more your Christmas cookies will cost to bake this year compared to the past five years using Statistics Canada's monthly average retail price data.
Windsor
-
Man arrested after livestreaming sexual abuse of child
The Windsor Police Service say they’ve arrested a 29-year-old man after the sexual abuse of a child was livestreamed on social media.
-
Sparky's Toy Drive fills the tree for 3,000 Windsor-Essex youth
Christmas came early for hundreds of Windsor families who picked up holiday gifts from Sparky’s Toy Drive Saturday morning.
-
Three people with outstanding warrants arrested by CK police
Chatham-Kent police arrested three people with outstanding warrants on Friday.
Montreal
-
Bilingual municipalities take action as Quebec’s native English speaking population falls
The 2021 Canadian census revealed the number of Quebecers whose mother tongue is English has continued to decline, and several municipalities where native English speakers were once the majority have now fallen below the 50 per cent threshold.
-
Superior Court authorizes class action against junior hockey league over abuse of minors
The Quebec Superior Court authorized the institution of a class action aimed at compensating all minors who suffered abuse while playing in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
-
Man arrested for DUI after car crashed into Mile-End restaurant
A man was arrested for drunk driving after allegedly losing control of his vehicle and hitting three parked cars before skidding off and crashing into a restaurant in Montreal's Mile-End neighbourhood early Saturday morning.
Winnipeg
-
Wintery weather warnings in effect for southern Manitoba
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued several snowfall, winter storm and freezing rain warnings for much of southern Manitoba.
-
Manitoba legislative building holds annual holiday open house
The provincial legislative building opened its doors to Manitobans Saturday, inviting everyone to get a glimpse of where major decisions are made.
-
Major Manitoba fossil milestones highlight the potential for future discoveries in the province
A trio of fossil finds through the years helped put Manitoba on the mosasaur map, and the milestone of those finds have all been marked in 2024.
Atlantic
-
The 61st Annual Christmas Daddies Telethon raises more than $559,000 for children in need
The 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon continued its proud Maritime tradition, raising more than $559,000 for children in need on Saturday.
-
StatsCan data says 3 in 10 residential property buyers in N.S. were investors from 2018-2020
Statistics Canada says investors represented three in 10 residential property buyers in Nova Scotia between 2018 and 2020 -- the highest volume of such buyers among provinces where data is available.
-
Most Canadians would avoid buying U.S. products post-Trump tariff: Nanos survey
A majority of Canadians would be hesitant to buy U.S. goods in response to the proposed American tariff on products from Canada, according to a new survey.
N.L.
-
Not just for your parents: Facebook's buy-and-sell platform drawing back millennials
The two-metre-tall anchor, believed to be from a century-old shipwreck, was salvaged by a fisherman in the 1980s. But last year, the 31-year-old Stapleton, who works as a navigation officer on a cargo ship, snapped it up on Facebook Marketplace.
-
'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken
Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth.
-
'They're sitting ducks:' More women with disabilities unhoused due to abuse, violence
New data show women with disabilities are more likely to be forced into homelessness because of violence or abuse.
Calgary
-
Man dies after vehicle pins him to tree in southwest Calgary crash
A man is dead after he was pinned to a tree by a truck Friday afternoon in the southwest community of Patterson Heights.
-
Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law
A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they've followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta's three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.
-
Calgarians flocking to markets with local vendors for Christmas Shopping
As Christmas is on the horizon, Calgarians headed to the markets across the city on Saturday to get some shopping done while also supporting local businesses.
Edmonton
-
2 arrested in connection with Friday killing of 20-year-old security guard
Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old security guard at a downtown apartment building on Friday.
-
Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta's new gender-affirming treatment law
A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they've followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta's three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.
-
Bill fast-tracking resort development sets 'problematic' precedent, critics say
A bill giving Alberta’s government power to reclassify land in provincial parks for the development of all-season resorts has some concerned about environmental impacts and the “problematic” precedent it sets by allowing the province to bypass existing legislation.
Regina
-
Regina holiday market booming as vendors encourage local shopping amid postal strike
The holidays are the busiest time of year for countless businesses, but many Regina vendors are hoping Christmas shoppers will come to them this year amid ongoing job action at Canada Post.
-
Freezing rain warning issued for Regina, other parts of southern Sask.
A freezing rain warning is in effect for Regina and other parts of southern Saskatchewan on Saturday, as a system moving through the province also prompted a winter storm warning further north including Saskatoon.
-
Sask. woman killed after vehicle crashes into bottom of embankment: RCMP
A 50-year-old woman from Hudson Bay, Sask. was killed after the vehicle she was in left the roadway on Highway 9 on Friday.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon under winter storm warning with freezing rain, heavy snow forecasted
A winter storm warning has been issued for the city of Saskatoon and parts of west central Saskatchewan by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
-
Sask. RCMP investigating homicide on Onion Lake Cree Nation
Saskatchewan RCMP is investigating a homicide on Onion Lake Cree Nation after a 37-year-old man died early Friday morning.
-
Sask. doctor facing professional charges in circumcision case
A Saskatoon doctor has been accused of unprofessional conduct following a high-cost adult circumcision that included a request for the patient to text unsecured post-op pictures of his genitals.
Vancouver
-
Coquitlam RCMP seek help identifying suspect who sexually assaulted 7 women
Mounties in Coquitlam say they’re looking for a man accused of committing a string of sexual assaults in the city over the past few days.
-
B.C. NDP provincial director hospitalized after 'serious medical emergency'
The former B.C. NDP MLA for Chilliwack and newly appointed provincial director, Dan Coulter, is in hospital after suffering a “serious medical emergency,” according to the party.
-
Prince George Taylor Swift fans rent car after flight to Vancouver cancelled
A diehard Taylor Swift fan who lives in Prince George, B.C., says a flight cancellation forced her and a group of other Swifties to rent a car and make the near 800-kilometre journey to Vancouver to catch the last dates of the Eras Tour.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. NDP provincial director hospitalized after 'serious medical emergency'
The former B.C. NDP MLA for Chilliwack and newly appointed provincial director, Dan Coulter, is in hospital after suffering a “serious medical emergency,” according to the party.
-
Prince George Taylor Swift fans rent car after flight to Vancouver cancelled
A diehard Taylor Swift fan who lives in Prince George, B.C., says a flight cancellation forced her and a group of other Swifties to rent a car and make the near 800-kilometre journey to Vancouver to catch the last dates of the Eras Tour.
-
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
