Major crime now investigating after toddler found with dead body
The Ottawa police major crime unit confirmed Friday it is investigating the suspicious death of a woman whose body was found in a Mechanicsville apartment along with an unharmed toddler earlier this week.
Homicide detectives took over the investigation Thursday after officers were first called to the building on Burnside Avenue Wednesday morning. The woman was in her 30s, police said.
A woman living beside the unit where this happened told CBC News the child is the woman's two-year-old son. Police said Thursday he is now with family members.
"He was in a loaded diaper, the apartment was trashed — [the mother] kept her home immaculate," the woman said.
"… That little boy was calling for his mom. The paramedics and police came, they cleaned him up and took care of him."
On Thursday police said they suspected no foul play. On Friday, the major crime unit declined to say if the woman had any visible signs of physical trauma. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.
Ottawa Community Housing, which manages the building, said in a statement they can't comment on the circumstances of what happened because of the police investigation, but they're "deeply saddened" by it.
