Man who lived with couple shocked by discovery of toddler's remains, was told she was living in Winnipeg

Winnipeg Police called to assist with a wellness check, found a child's remains at a home on Pritchard Avenue.

A man who lived with a couple for two years says he was shocked to learn about the discovery of a toddler's remains at the home where the couple lived.

The man's revelation was heard as part of a bail hearing in Winnipeg on Friday where a couple, a 41-year-old man and his 39-year-old common-law spouse, were remanded into custody on charges relating to the child's death.

The man, a welder who said he lived with the couple for the past two years, said he never saw any indication that the couple were involved in anything illegal. He also said that he would sometimes babysit the couple's four-year-old daughter.

The man said he became concerned for the couple when he couldn't get in touch with them for a few days. He called 911, and the police found the couple and the child's remains.

Cst. Jay Murray, a Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson, has previously said that police were called to a home on Pritchard Avenue on January 22, 2023, to assist with a wellness check.

When the officers arrived, they discovered the man and the woman in their living room and began administering first aid. The two were transported to hospital in unstable condition, but the child, known as "Phoenix," was deceased.

Winnipeg Police would not comment on the cause of death for the child.

According to the man who lived with them, the couple had told him that the child's mother was living in Winnipeg. The man said he never met the mother and never saw any signs of abuse or neglect.

The couple was arrested and charged with failing to provide the necessities of life and criminal negligence causing death.

The bail hearing was the first step in the court process for the couple. A date for their next court appearance has not yet been released.