Mother of newborn who was found dead has also died, Halifax police say

The mother of a missing newborn who was the subject of an urgent search over the weekend has died, Halifax Regional Police say.

The 23-year-old woman was taken to hospital on Friday in critical condition, and it appeared she had just given birth. Const. Martin Cromwell told reporters Thursday that police didn’t have a chance to speak with her before she died Wednesday.

“It’s an already complex investigation and from an investigative perspective, [that] would definitely make it even that more challenging,” Cromwell said.

Because the baby wasn’t with her when she was taken to hospital, a search ensued. The newborn’s remains were found on Sunday in a wooded area off Old Coach Road in Goodwood, N.S., near Halifax.

Police said the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service will determine the cause and manner of the mother’s death.

The cause and manner of the infant’s death is also under investigation.

“Due to the complexity of this incident, it may take an extended period of time to determine the results for both the infant and the mother,” Halifax Regional Police said in a news release.

Police have not identified the mother.

Man, woman charged

Two people were charged in connection with the newborn’s death.

Sukhpreet Singh, 23, and wife Ramandeep Kaur, 26, are charged with disposing of the body of a child with the intent to conceal the fact it had been delivered, two counts of obstruction by lying, including to a police officer, and offering an indignity to a dead body.

They appeared in court on Thursday and did not seek bail. Both have agreed to remain in custody until their next hearing on June 22.

They were represented by lawyers in Halifax provincial court. Singh appeared by video from a jail outside New Glasgow, N.S., while a lawyer for Kaur appeared on her behalf.

Police have said the mother of the newborn was a relative of Singh. Police have also said it appeared the woman’s condition was a medical one and not the result of violence.

Prosecutor Paul Carver said outside the courtroom the medical examiner’s investigation into the death of the baby has revealed some “very preliminary results,” but he declined to discuss them or indicate how the child died. He said further charges are “certainly a possibility.”

After being told of the woman in hospital, police sought to find the baby and went to an apartment on Willett Street in the Clayton Park area of Halifax. But no child was found despite a search in and around the apartment building.

The remains of the infant were subsequently discovered in a wooded area about 10 kilometres away after police said new information they learned during interviews redirected them to a second location.

Cromwell urged compassion as he made reference to comments that have been written online about the mother and the two people who were charged.

“In a time like this, we urge people on social media anywhere to just support anyone who is dealing with this as opposed to hateful comments online. It’s a time for grieving, it’s a time for support,” Cromwell said.

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