The trial of 59-year-old Emil Radita and 53-year-old Rodica Radita, accused of first degree murder in connection with the death of their 15-year-old son Alexandru, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Alexandru’s body was located in the Radita family’s Citadel home in May 2013 and an autopsy confirmed the teenager, who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, died from bacterial sepsis attributed to neglect, starvation and complications related to diabetes.
Police described Alexandru’s living conditions as horrific and the teen weighed 18 kg (40 lbs) at the time of his death. The first degree murder charges against the parents were the result of the preventable nature of the teenager’s suffering that eventually resulted in death. According to police, Alexandru’s neglect was not related to religious beliefs.
The Radita family, including Alexandru and his seven siblings, relocated to Alberta from British Columbia several years prior to the teenager’s death. British Columbia RCMP confirm an investigation was launched into suspected neglect in 2003 while the Radita’s lived in Surrey. Alexandru was seized from the home and placed in a foster home. A judge later ordered the child’s return.
Emil and Rodica Radita have remained in custody since their arrest in February 2014. In June of that year, bail was denied for the accused murderers.
