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
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.