Dayhome operator Caitlin Jarosz pleads guilty to manslaughter in girl's death

A Calgary dayhome operator charged with second-degree murder has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 death of Mackenzy Woolfsmith, a 21-month-old toddler.

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CaitlinJarosz'second-degree murdertrial was supposed to begin Monday, butherlawyer and the prosecution negotiated thedeal for her to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Jarosz's lawyer said the former dayhome operator felt "huge" remorse.

"She was remorseful from the first day I met her when she came into my office," said Alain Hepner.

"It's tough.Imagine this is a young girl, no record, running a dayhome," he added.

Jarosz was charged in 2013,just over a year after Woolfsmith's death.

The 21-month-olddied from multiple blunt force trauma in Jarosz's home, according to the medical examiner.

At first, Jarosz told police that Woolfsmith fell down the stairs.

The little girl's parents,Dan and Jen Woolfsmith,were in court to hear the plea.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Jarosz called 911 at12:50 p.m.on May 2, 2012.

Paramedics were surprisedby the significant medical distress the child was in considering Jarosz had reported the girl fell down four stairs.

Woolfsmith was blue around her mouth and eyes, lifeless, had no pulse and was cold to the touch.

The medical examiner found she had severe injuries to her brain and spinal cord.

During the investigation, police found a trail of bloody baby wipes in Jarosz'shome.