A Winnipeg father pleaded guilty to manslaughter after his toddler died from fentanyl ingestion, with sentencing set at nearly three years
Father Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Toddler’s Death
The father of a toddler who died after ingesting fentanyl in the family’s Winnipeg home has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for failing to seek medical help in a timely manner.
The manslaughter trial for Garry Bruce was set to begin on Monday in front of Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Justice Christian Monnin but did not proceed as Bruce entered a guilty plea.
Details of the Case
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | March 2023 |
| Time to Call 911 | Approximately 7 hours |
| Child’s Name | Hanna Boulette |
| Cause of Death | Acute fentanyl intoxication |
| Father’s Age | 40 years old |
| Sentence Recommendation | Just under 3 years or time served |
An agreed statement of facts presented in court revealed that it took roughly seven hours for Bruce and his partner, Sabrina Boulette, to call 911 after noticing their one-year-old daughter, Hanna, was sick.
The home was described as being in a deplorable state, with garbage, dog feces, and drug paraphernalia scattered around. Officers found a syringe filled with fentanyl in an open diaper box on the bathroom floor.
The court heard it is unclear how Hanna ingested the opioid, but her death might have been avoidable if her parents had sought medical help sooner. Crown prosecutor Boyd McGill stated, “Treatment was available. An antidote to opiate overdose is available, and it is effective.”
Police charged Bruce and Boulette in February 2024 after a lengthy investigation. The court heard that Hanna began acting listless on the morning of her death. By the time paramedics arrived, she was in cardiac arrest and later died in the hospital.
An autopsy confirmed that the child died from acute fentanyl intoxication. Bruce and Boulette created a cover story for police, fearing that child and family services would take Hanna away. They claimed Hanna was with a friend while they were apartment hunting.
Boulette maintained the story during police questioning but later confessed to the truth. Bruce’s lawyer, Kristen Jones, told the judge, “Mr. Bruce didn’t intend for his child to die. He didn’t set out to harm her.”
Bruce has a brief history of criminal offenses, including drug trafficking in 2010. The court heard that he has faced significant trauma in his life, including the deaths of family members and a contentious custody battle, which led to his drug addiction.
During the two-hour hearing, Bruce, wearing a prison-issued grey sweatsuit, wept and said, “I’m sorry. My family is everything to me. I’m so sorry.”
The Crown and Bruce’s lawyers requested a joint recommendation for a sentence of just under three years or time served. Bruce was expected to be officially released later on Monday.
Justice Monnin stated, “This matter is profoundly tragic and serious. It involves a basic failure of duty owed to a child—one of the most vulnerable members of our society.” Boulette had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing.
