B.C. child welfare official testifies at inquiry into teen's death in Calgary
A 15-year-old boy who died in Calgary weighing just 37 pounds was also near death in a British Columbia hospital about a decade earlier, a child welfare official from that province testified at the teen's fatality inquiry.
Alexandru Radita was brought to a hospital in 2003 by ambulance with a bloated stomach, rotten teeth and thinning hair, and he was extremely underweight, the deputy director of Child Welfare in B.C. testified Tuesday at the Calgary inquiry.
“It was about insulin and it was probably the most grave report that we had on this family in British Columbia,” James Wale said. “It was a very concerning report. Alex was near death.”
The teen died of bacterial sepsis in May 2013, which was brought on by complications from untreated diabetes and starvation.
His parents, Emil and Rodica Radita, were found guilty in 2017 of first-degree murder. Court heard they refused to accept the boy had diabetes when he was diagnosed in B.C. with the disease in 2000.
He was hospitalized twice due to malnutrition and taken into foster care before later being returned to his parents who moved to Alberta in 2008.
The inquiry was adjourned in September in an effort to bring in witnesses from British Columbia.
“I need to hear it from the ministry in terms of their responses, their actions and what they were seeing because that is the focal point of this inquiry … state action, not the murder trial,” Alberta Provincial Court Judge Sharon Van de Veen said in September.
“The purpose of this inquiry is to determine if we can prevent similar deaths and I'm looking at the involvement of state agencies who could have or did play a role in regard to the treatment of children generally.”
Wale said Tuesday that his office reviewed all dealings with the Radita family from 2000 to 2009.
Problems came to light in 2000 and 2001, but came to a head in October 2003 when Alex was brought to hospital, he said.
Wale said paramedics at the scene reported the severity of the neglect to the RCMP.
“Without intervention at this time, it is highly likely he would have died within hours,” he said.
Wale said Alex was removed from his home the next day. A year later, a B.C. judge ordered he be given back to his parents.
He said the case was considered closed in 2009, when the department learned the family had moved to Alberta, which meant the department didn't pass on its concerns.
“I will say here that B.C. should have called Alberta. I agree with that, given the facts of the situation,” Wale said.
“We recognize the tragedy of this.”
Van de Veen said if Alberta had been notified about the risk Alex was facing, the inquiry would not be necessary.
“They disappear off the radar and … the only people who had an idea where this boy could have been located was the B.C. ministry,” said Van de Veen, pausing to note how emotional the proceedings have been.
She said there needed to be some sort of alert system in place that should have included social agencies, health officials and even those involved in his home-schooling.
“This is not a question of uncertainty. I am certain if one person had laid eyes on Alex, just laid eyes on him, he'd be alive today,” Van de Veen said.
“They would not have left him there. He was 37 pounds at his death.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.