Father whose infant daughter died with meth in bloodstream sentenced in case of 'unimaginable' loss

A Winnipeg father whose three-month-old daughter died in 2022 with methamphetamine in her bloodstream has been sentenced to 21 months of time served, following actions a judge decried as "inexcusable."

"What a sad case. A 90-day-old baby is so vulnerable, because they can't speak, they can't act, they rely on adults to protect them," provincial court Judge Murray Thompson said as he sentenced Christopher Mattern in a Winnipeg courtroom Thursday.

"I'm sure your parents, and her grandparents, are heartbroken. Their loss is unimaginable."

Mattern, 41, previously pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life in the death of his infant daughter, who can't be identified because of a publication ban. The baby's mother is set to stand trial in the case in September, court heard.

Prosecutor Alanna Littman told court both parents struggled with addiction. At the time of their daughter's death, they were regularly using methamphetamine in the home, which Littman described as "messy, with hoarding-like living conditions and drug paraphernalia throughout."

The parents would also allow other people to come over and use meth, "having no concern for [their daughter's] safety," the prosecutor said.

In February 2022, the parents awoke to find their daughter not breathing and called 911. She was rushed to hospital and pronounced dead.

Court heard while toxicology reports found meth in the baby's bloodstream, an autopsy listed her cause of death as undetermined.

"We know that it was in her bloodstream, but not what amount," Littman said, adding there was evidence the baby was born with respiratory issues and had caught COVID-19 during her first few weeks of life. An unsafe sleep environment was also noted as a condition that may have contributed to her death.

"She had been doing quite poorly … the week preceding her death, in terms of feeding and her respiratory issues," said Littman.

The prosecutor said while the methamphetamine wasn't confirmed to be a cause or contributing factor in the baby's death, "it's accepted that there's no safe level of exposure to an illicit drug, in this case methamphetamine, and it's on that basis that [Mattern] has pleaded guilty. A child exposed to illicit drug use in her home is at a risk of harm."

'You won't be forgotten'

When given the chance to speak in court, Mattern said he had no excuses for what happened to his daughter.

"I was meant to protect her, and I didn't," he said.

Court also heard a note Mattern wrote to his deceased daughter, read by defence lawyer Matthew Munce, where Mattern wrote that "no words can describe the hurt, anger, sadness and guilt that fills my heart."

"I love you with all of my heart…. I don't know how to live without your smile," the note said. "Just know you are so loved — and your time was short, but you won't be forgotten."

Defence lawyer Munce told court Mattern, who was also sentenced to two years of supervised probation as part of a joint recommendation, was looking forward to getting help for his addictions.

"He recognizes that his role and responsibilities as a father … fell short because of his addictions," Munce said. Mattern started using substances as an adolescent, around the time he discovered he was adopted, but began a "downward spiral" when he started using meth specifically, said Munce.

Mattern's probation conditions include doing any substance abuse counselling or treatment advised and abstaining from possessing alcohol or illegal drugs.