Latvian Mother Faces Charges in Toddler’s Death

Negligence and cruelty alleged in tragic case of toddler who wandered off in winter.

A mother in Latvia is facing criminal charges after her toddler son was found dead in February, not far from their home. The case has now been handed to prosecutors.

Search and Discovery

On February 1, a boy born in 2023 was reported missing from his home in the Lendži parish of Rezekne district. According to a press release, the report was made around 3 p.m., approximately an hour and a half after the child was last seen at 1:30 p.m.

Police immediately launched a search, deploying significant resources, including officers from other units, drones, and a canine unit. Tragically, the boy was found later that evening, around 9:22 p.m., about 200 meters from the “Taudejāņi” bus stop, but without signs of life. Despite resuscitation efforts, he could not be revived.

Legal Proceedings

Two women, born in 1985 and 1964, were detained at the scene. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death was launched. Following this, a proposal was filed in court to detain one suspect; however, the court instead imposed police supervision.

In June, a separate criminal proceeding was initiated against the woman born in 1964 for allegedly disclosing information obtained during the pre-trial criminal proceedings.

Charges Filed

The police have completed their investigation into both criminal proceedings and submitted the case to the prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors have been asked to prosecute the woman born in 1985 for manslaughter through negligence and cruelty to a minor. According to the Children’s Safety Network, neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment, with nearly 60% of child abuse cases involving neglect (American SPCC).

Reports indicate that the boy’s mother and grandmother were at home when he disappeared. The child’s father was reportedly out of the country at the time.

The child had been declared in Rezekne and had come to the village.