A 28-year-old babysitter in Cranbrook has been charged with second-degree murder in the drowning death of a 19-month old girl in May.
Iyanna Teeple, “Iya”, had been left in the care of Tammy Marion Bouvette on the morning of May 26. A few hours later a 911 call notified responders of a child in medical distress and not breathing.
When the ambulance arrived the toddler was found face down in a bathtub and was not breathing.
She was taken to the East Kootney Regional Hospital and flown to Calgary Children’s Hospital. Three days later she was taken off life support and was pronounced dead. An autopsy confirmed she had died from drowning.
After several interviews with Bouvette, police suspected foul play and sent their investigation to Crown Counsel on June 24. An exhaustive review of the evidence was conducted and Bouvette was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday.
Police credit a medical examiner in Alberta for pushing the investigation forward was scheduled to but are not releasing further details.
Bouvette will appear in Cranbrook Provincial Court for the first time late Tuesday.
On Iyanna’s memorial website, her obituary reads, “She was known as a happy little girl. She was a daughter to everyone whose heart she touched.”
Through organ donations, Iyanna saved the lives of five children.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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