Sunday, January 23, 2011

Infant Death Investigation results in Second Degree Murder Charge

On August 14, 2010 at 1:14 p.m. a call was placed to the Sault Ste. Marie Emergency Medical Services requesting assistance at an east end residence for an infant in distress. On arrival, paramedics found a 17 day-old male infant unresponsive and immediately transported him to Sault Area Hospital. On August 15, 2010 at 12:20 a.m. the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service was notified by the Coroner of the infant’s death. A Coroner’s investigation commenced with assistance from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Investigation Unit. A post mortem examination was conducted on the 17th and 18th of August in Toronto, Ontario. A criminal investigation began upon receiving information from the post mortem examination which indicated that the child had died as a result of blunt impact head injuries.

The investigations by the Coroner’s Office and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Investigation Unit has resulted in an arrest being made in this case. On January 22, 2011, thirty eight year-old Jamie Allen Oben of 215 Farquhar Street Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario has been charged with one count of second degree murder. Jamie Oben has been remanded into custody pending a bail hearing on Monday January 24, 2011. It is alleged that the deceased infant Liam Oben, the son of the accused, was in Jamie Oben’s care at the time of the incident.