Parents charged in drug-exposure death of infant

The parents of a three-month-old infant who died as a result of exposure to fentanyl and methamphetamine in 2022 have been charged in connection with her death, Winnipeg police say.

Police and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service went to a residence on Westgrove Way regarding an unresponsive infant on Feb. 2, 2022, police said in a newsrelease on Wednesday.

The child abuse unit began an investigation into the sudden deathof Layla Mattern Muise, and autopsy and toxicology reports determined her death resulted from exposure to fentanyl and meth, the release said.

Later Wednesday, Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshentold reporters numerous interviews had to take place before arrests could be made.

There were also a "number of hoops to jump through"when it came to locating witnesses, and police did struggle to locate some individuals,he said.

He also saidthe finaltoxicology report resultsweren't provided to police until last September.

The reports "can take some time. Typically, they can take months,"Michalyshen said. "If there are matters that are more complex it could take even longer, and in this case it did."

The child abuse unit completed its investigation, consulted with the Crown and charges were authorized against both parents, the release said.

"We know, not just in this case, but in cases previously that there can be tragic endings and here we are," Michalyshensaid. "There's no winners here whatsoever and again, aside from acknowledging the arrest, the scenario hasn't changed.It's tragic then and it's tragic now."

Christopher Joseph Mattern, 39, and Alison Kimberly Muise, 40, were arrested and charged Tuesday with failing to provide the necessaries of life in connection with the infant's death and detained in custody, police said.