UPDATE: P.E.I. child advocate to investigate death of 9-year-old Olivia Rodd

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — After reviewing the 2020 murder of nine-year-old Olivia Ruth Rodd, P.E.I.’s Little one and Youth Advocate Marv Bernstein has determined to launch a complete investigation by way of a “child-rights lens” with the intention to assist forestall future deaths.

“It appeared that there could have been a spot and missed alternatives in providers that have been offered to Olivia and her household,” Bernstein stated on Aug. 17 – the identical day the investigation was introduced. The kid and youth advocate is an officer unbiased of the P.E.I. Legislative Meeting and appointed beneath the province’s Little one and Youth Advocate Act.

On July 17, 2020, Charlottetown police responded to a report from Olivia’s father Danny Rodd. Rodd was involved after Olivia’s mom Danielle White, 47, wasn’t responding to his messages. When police arrived at White’s dwelling on Lilac Avenue in Charlottetown, they discovered Olivia and White lifeless on account of acute carbon monoxide poisoning.  
The supply of the carbon monoxide poisoning was a number of charcoal burn pits all through the house, together with inside Olivia’s room.

The reason for the deaths was decided to be a murder-suicide with Olivia being the sufferer of a murder. A autopsy examination decided that White dedicated suicide a time period after killing Olivia. These findings have been introduced in a coroner’s inquest within the deaths of Olivia Rodd and Danielle White that was held on the Sir Louis Henry Davies Legislation Courts in Charlottetown on Dec. 6 and Feb. 24.

Testimony was additionally given on the coroner’s inquest about White’s bi-polar dysfunction analysis in addition to her power psychological well being sickness and despair. White additionally had power suicidal ideas, and a few months previous to the deaths, she tried to buy and import unlawful medicine that originated in Mexico that could possibly be used to commit suicide. 
Bernstein stated the overview was primarily based on documentation associated to Olivia’s demise in addition to witness testimony and suggestions from the jury on the coroner’s inquest. After some reflection, he determined to launch an investigation.

The overview stage was additionally restricted to documentation associated to reviewable, government-funded providers and applications, corresponding to these involving little one safety, justice, well being and psychological well being. The investigation stage is broader and might contain non-government people, applications and providers. Bernstein stated the aim of the investigation is not to find out blame for Olivia’s demise. Relatively, it’s supposed to advance suggestions to enhance providers to youngsters and households in addition to improve laws, insurance policies, sources and practices.

Bernstein stated the investigation will contain a number of interviews with folks nicely past the quantity of people that testified on the coroner’s inquest. Bernstein added that he has the authority to order people with related data to take part within the investigation. As nicely, though the investigation is confidential, it is findings and suggestions shall be made public.
“On the investigation stage, I can interview any individual that I consider has related and probative data so as to add. So, I can transfer outdoors of presidency departments. I can have a look at different professionals that have been engaged and have been interactive in a roundabout way with members of the family,” he stated.

Bernstein famous that previously decade, there have now been two coroners’ inquests of a murder-suicide involving a baby sufferer on P.E.I. The opposite inquest was held in 2015 involving the deaths of Patricia Hennessey and her four-year outdated son Nash Campbell two years earlier.

“We need to do all the pieces we will to keep away from a 3rd occasion of this,” Bernstein stated.

Bernstein stated one other motivation for the investigation into Olivia’s demise is to honour her reminiscence and have fun her life.

“She will’t converse for herself. And, what can we do in her title and her reminiscence to ensure this does not occur to different youngsters and households,” he stated.