The case of a Montreal mother accused of abandoning her two-year-old daughter last month took a significant turn Wednesday as a Quebec court judge announced the bail decision will be delayed until Friday. The 35-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child, appeared visibly distressed during the brief hearing at the Montreal courthouse.
“These cases involving children require careful consideration of multiple factors, including the best interests of the child and community safety,” said Crown prosecutor Annabelle Sheppard following the proceedings. “The complexity of this situation necessitates additional time for the court to render an appropriate decision.”
The woman faces serious charges including child abandonment, failing to provide the necessities of life, and criminal negligence after her daughter was found alone in a Notre-Dame-de-Grâce apartment on April 24. Police discovered the child in distressing conditions after neighbors reported hearing crying for several days.
According to court documents, authorities believe the child had been left unattended for approximately 72 hours before being found. The girl has since been placed in provincial care, with officials from Quebec’s youth protection services overseeing her well-being while the legal proceedings unfold.
Defense attorney Martin Cohen has argued for his client’s release with strict conditions, citing her lack of criminal history and strong community ties. “There are significant mental health components to this case that need to be addressed through proper support systems, not incarceration,” Cohen told reporters outside the courthouse.
The prosecution has countered by emphasizing the severity of the alleged abandonment, with Sheppard noting that “the evidence suggests a concerning pattern of behavior that preceded this incident.” Investigators continue gathering information about the circumstances that led to the child being left alone.
This case has sparked renewed discussions about Quebec’s child protection systems and mental health support for parents in crisis. Child welfare advocates have pointed to systemic gaps that often fail to identify families at risk before emergencies occur.
“What we’re seeing increasingly is parents without adequate support networks reaching breaking points,” explained Dr. Sophia Belanger, a child welfare researcher at Université de Montréal. “The pandemic exacerbated isolation for many families, and our social safety nets haven’t fully recovered to meet these needs.”
The accused woman’s family members, who attended Wednesday’s hearing, declined to speak with media but released a statement expressing their commitment to supporting both mother and child through appropriate channels. They described the situation as “a tragedy for everyone involved” and requested privacy.
If convicted of all charges, the mother could face up to five years in prison, though legal experts suggest the court will likely consider rehabilitation-focused sentencing options given the circumstances.
As Montreal continues to grapple with this troubling case, the broader question emerges: How can our communities better identify and support struggling parents before crisis situations develop, and what responsibility do we collectively bear for the welfare of our most vulnerable citizens?
