Missed Opportunities & The Death of Jeffrey Baldwin

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20th May 2020  •  7 min read

In 2002, Jeffrey Baldwin, 5, was found dead in his grandparent's home. He weighed the same as a 1-year-old. He had been systematically starved and abused by his grandparents who had gained custody of him after his own parents had abused him.


Missed Opportunities & The Death of Jeffrey Baldwin

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Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. Using investigative research combined with primary audio, Morbidology takes an in-depth look at true crime cases from all across the world.


In 1998, Jeffrey Baldwin and his three siblings were removed from their mother’s care after the Catholic Children’s Aid Society investigated allegations of child abuse. Their grandparents, Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman, were granted custody of the grandchildren by CCAS.

On the 30th of November, 2002, police and paramedics were alerted to the family’s home where they discovered Jeffrey, wrapped in a towel on the kitchen counter. Paramedics found no pulse but rushed him to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He went alone; neither of his grandparents asked to go with him. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter and his cause of death was listed as pneumonia. Jeffrey was just 5-years-old.

However, it was evident that Jeffrey had suffered prolonged starvation and abuse. Jeffrey had sunken eyes and chest as well as loose skin around the buttocks and penis and an extended belly. His emaciated body weighed just 21 pounds – one pound less than he weighed when he was 12-months-old. Because of the years of starvation, Jeffrey had stopped growing and was only as tall as a typical 2-year-old. According to those who saw his body, his arms and legs looked like sticks. “You didn’t need to do an autopsy to know there were major issues,” said Ontario deputy coroner Jim Cairns. “As soon as I saw this, homicide were called in. It certainly would have been a terrible existence for this child, for a considerable length of time.”1

An investigation into the family uncovered that in addition to the children, six other adults had been living at the cramped home at 354 Woodfield Road, Toronto. Jeffrey was confined to an unheated upstairs bedroom and was forbidden from leaving. He was forced to defecate and urinate on his own bedroom floor, causing the home to have a putrid stench. In fact, according to one CCAS worker, the mattress in the bedroom was “spattered with dried faeces.” While Jeffrey was forbidden from using the bathroom, he would be beaten when defecating in the bedroom.

Jeffrey had never attended school and had not seen a doctor “for a considerable length of time.”2 In addition to being forbidden from using the bathroom, Jeffrey was forced to drink out of the toilet. Over time, as he became more malnourished, he struggled to even walk up the stairs to his bedroom and crawled slowly, one step at a time. In addition, one of Jeffrey’s sisters was treated the same way. She too was locked in the same bedroom as Jeffrey. Jeffrey and his sister would be beaten with spoons and were pulled by their hair. They were washed with cold water from a hose and were forced to eat their own vomit. Elva and Norman referred to Jeffrey and his sister as “little pigs.”3

Elva and Norman were arrested on charges of first-degree murder and forcible confinement. They both announced that they would be intending to fight the charges. “She was devastated when her grandchild died last year and she’s devastated she’d been accused of being charged with that death,” said Elva’s defence lawyer, Nicholas Xynis.

It was soon enough discovered that Elva and Norman both had criminal records for child abuse from the 1970s. In 1970, Elva was sentenced to one-year probation for assaulting her 5-year-old daughter, Eva, who had died of pneumonia. While the death was initially believed to be an accident, an autopsy showed that Eva had suffered from fractures of the shoulders, elbows and wrists. Then in 1978, Norman was convicted of assaulting two of Elva’s children from a previous relationship and was sentenced to two years’ probation.  

Following the revelation, CCAS announced that they had some involvement with the family in the past but were unaware the grandparents had criminal records when they were granted custody. However, it would later be shown that CCAS noted the convictions on their files. Spokesman Fernando Saldanha subsequently announced that they regretted not checking their files before granting custody of Jeffrey and his siblings to the couple. “If the records had been properly checked by the workers involved at the time, then the situation would have been very different.”4

Toronto homicide detectives were called in to investigate CCAS and an unspecified number of case workers to determine whether there was any criminal negligence in the death of Jeffrey. “I’m looking at the agency and its workers with the possibility of criminal wrongdoings, vis a vis, criminal negligence causing the death of Jeffrey Baldwin, and criminal negligence causing bodily harm involving the other children,” announced Detective Sgt. Mike Davis.5

The trial for Elva and Norman opened in September of 2005. During opening statements, Crown Attorney Bev Richards described how Jeffrey had been systematically starved to death in what a prominent doctor called “one of the most severe cases of malnutrition” that he had ever seen. She went on to describe how Jeffrey’s life was “like something straight out of a horror movie.”

Missed Opportunities & The Death of Jeffrey Baldwin
Jeffrey in the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

James Mills, one of the adults living in the home, testified that Elva had told him that she wouldn’t get help for Jeffrey because it “would ruin her cheque,” adding that “those two kids are $600 a month.”6 According to Mills, Elva and Norman were afraid that somebody would report them to CPS and they would lose their source of income. When asked why he didn’t report the abuse, Mills said that he didn’t want to get kicked out of the house. Seemingly, like the rest of the adults in the house, Mills just looked right through Jeffrey and pretended he didn’t exist. In fact, when paramedics were attempting to resuscitate Jeffrey, none of the adults inquired about his well being and none accompanied him to the hospital. He died alone just like he had lived alone.

Next to testify was pathologist Dr. Gregory Wilson, who reported that when Jeffrey died, he had no body fat, was around 3.1 feet long and weighed 21.3 pounds. He described how his face was bruised and he had abrasions around his left eye and neck, parts of his abdomen, inner thighs and his legs were encrusted with a dry, scaly rash. Additionally, he had ulcers on his genitals.7 He went on to describe how Jeffrey developed pneumonia a few days before his death. Fecal bacteria had gotten into his bloodstream, causing septic shock that would have made it difficult to breathe. Jeffrey had most likely placed his fingers into his mouth, transferring the bacteria into his lungs.

Dr. Stanley Zlotkin of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children testified that he had never seen a child so malnourished in his 25  years of practicing in Canada and in developing countries. Haunting photographs of Jeffrey were entered into evidence and provided a dramatic picture of a child who was severely malnourished. It was a stark difference to the photographs of Jeffrey before he went to live with his grandparents. “You’re literally seeing his patella, or knee bone, sticking out,” said Dr. Zlotkin. “One can literally see every bone in his rib cage.”8 The photographs were extremely distressing yet Elva and Norman showed no semblance of emotion.

Under cross-examination, Norman’s defence lawyer, Robert Richardson, suggested that Jeffrey had staved himself for an emotional reason. This was something Dr. Zlotkin strongly refuted, stating: “I do not believe that a child can self-impose that degree of starvation.” He went on to describe how there was an absence of iron in Jeffrey’s bone marrow which would have taken at least a year to develop.9

Osiris Villalobos, an investigator with CCAS wiped away tears as he recollected the lifeless body of Jeffrey at the hospital. Villalobos and police officers visited the home after leaving the hospital. He described how all of the rooms inside the home were heated, properly furnished and cleaned. The bedroom of Jeffrey and his sister was barren, freezing and disgusting. The mattress was soaked in urine and caked in dried faeces and blood. The floor around the mattress was urine-stained and rotten. A bag of soiled diapers lay on the floor and there were food remnants in a dog bowl. A latch was placed around 1.5 metres off the ground outside the bedroom door so that it could be locked by adults and not opened by children.

Evidence was also presented during trial that within an hour after learning that Jeffrey was dead, his mother, Yvonne Kidman, questioned whether she would receive his $50,000 life insurance policy. A conversation had been overheard between Yvonne and Elva during which Yvonne said: “I wonder if his insurance will cover him. I have insurance…” Elva replied: “That’s accidental death. I don’t know if he’s covered.”10

Michelle Kean, a neighbour of the family, testified that shortly after Jeffrey’s death, Elva had told her that Jeffrey poisoned himself by swallowing lead paint. Elva then asked Michelle to write a letter of support to help her regain custody of her grandchildren from CCAS. She went on to describe how the last time she saw Jeffrey, she didn’t even recognize him. “I couldn’t believe it was the same child. He was so sick, small, very pale.” She said she didn’t report his condition because she thought that CCAS were supervising the family.11

Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman were found guilty of second-degree murder and of forcible confinement of Jeffrey’s sister. Elva was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment and Norman was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Due to the history of abuse, Jeffrey Baldwin and his siblings should never have been placed in their grandparent’s care. Furthermore, since they had come from an abusive household, the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto should have been conducting welfare checks on the family. Sadly, they failed in their duties and failed Jeffrey. They were never held to account for their failures and missed opportunities.

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Footnotes:

  1. The Toronto Sun, 20 March, 2003 – “Tot Death Charges”
  2. The Toronto Star, 23 February, 2003 – “Boy Died Horrific Death”
  3. The Toronto Sun, 29 November, 2005 – “Jeffrey, Sis, Little Pigs”
  4. The Toronto Sun, 24 March, 2003 – “No Role in Case”
  5. The Toronto Sun, 25 March, 2003 – “Society Probed in Tot’s Death”
  6. The Edmonton Sun, 9 September, 2005 – “Boy, 5, Was Kept As Dog”
  7. The Toronto Star, 9 September, 2005 – “Boy Left to Starve, Trial Told”
  8. The Sault Star, 10 September, 2005 – “Dead Boy’s Limbs Like Twigs, Photo Show”
  9. The Toronto Star, 10 September, 2005 – “Expert Rejects Idea Bot Starved Himself”
  10. The North Bay Nugget, 15 September, 2005 – “Mother of Starved Boy Asked About Life Insurance”
  11. The North Bay Nugget, 18 October, 2005 – “Woman Blamed Boy’s Death on Lead Poisoning”

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Joseph
Joseph
3 years ago

Great article

Ever Rain
Ever Rain
3 years ago

This makes me sick. I can not believe they only received 20/22 years for purposely murdering a small innocent child. The system is fucked.

Gonna gettem
Gonna gettem
2 years ago
Reply to  Ever Rain

They will get there’s when they get out! If I have to make sure of it myself I will. This story has made me sick for almost 20 years.

DEXTER MORGAN
DEXTER MORGAN
2 years ago
Reply to  Gonna gettem

You can always ask me for help!

Jani Banani
Jani Banani
3 years ago

“the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto should have been conducting welfare checks on the family. Sadly, they failed in their duties and failed Jeffrey.”

GREAT WORK RELIGION! You failed again.

Mary Greene
Mary Greene
3 years ago
Reply to  Jani Banani

I doubt you could have done better.

Debby
Debby
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary Greene

Pretty much anything would be better than the fate he suffered. Like it or not they did fail this poor boy by not having any follow-up visits. So I don’t understand how you came to that conclusion

Lisa
Lisa
3 years ago
Reply to  Jani Banani

Um…humans failed him. Religion is a concept.

Cari Johnson
Cari Johnson
2 years ago
Reply to  Jani Banani

Pretty sure catholic services is referring to “catholic” being universal, inclusive or as a whole. Not the religion.

Joanna
Joanna
3 years ago

All those people who could have helped and didn’t. They didn’t bother to check his file to see the previous child abuse charges, the neighbor saw him and didn’t bother calling, 6 adults in the house didn’t call, his mother didn’t call. This boy and his siblings were failed by so many people it’s disgusting.

Amy
Amy
3 years ago
Reply to  Joanna

Yes all those people could’ve helped and did NOT. Unbelievable and disgusting! They ALL should’ve been charged but legally couldn’t be. They all should’ve got a hefty fine for not doing their duties and reporting it.
No matter how scary or convincing that sick Elva is/was, that’s no excuse….

chloe
chloe
3 years ago

I could NEVER hurt a child that bad or even like barely yell at a child

Tailwagger
Tailwagger
3 years ago

Does anyone know the race of Jeffrey’s bio father?
Is he indigenous or mixed black/white?

j baldwin
j baldwin
3 years ago
Reply to  Tailwagger

We are very European and a tad bit African on his side.

Amy
Amy
3 years ago
Reply to  j baldwin

Why did you sign in as J Baldwin? Are you a family member??

judy baldwin
judy baldwin
2 years ago
Reply to  Amy

Yes, I am, I’m Jeffrey’s older sister. (the one who was locked in the room with him)
My 2 siblings and I are out on our own in different cities, living out our own paths which we have chosen to take ( we are all in our 20’s now). I’m engaged to be married soon and so is another sibling.
We are happy and healthy and enjoying life to its fullest.

APRIL WESLEY
APRIL WESLEY
2 years ago
Reply to  judy baldwin

I am beyond happy to see this! Your story broke my heart and I wondered what happened to the rest of the kids and if they were doing okay. Thank you so much for letting us know you guys are okay! I hope you have the most blessed life ever and have all the happiness you deserve! 🙂

T. Jack
T. Jack
2 years ago
Reply to  judy baldwin

I’m so pleased to hear you are doing well. Poor Jeffrey, never had a chance. I’m glad you made it out to have a happy healthy life.

Amy
Amy
2 years ago
Reply to  judy baldwin

Hello Judy,
Just saw your reply, thank you! Very happy to see you are doing well! Wish all of you all the happiness & health in the world and an amazing life ♥️

Last edited 2 years ago by Amy
missXvamp
missXvamp
2 years ago
Reply to  judy baldwin

I’m so sorry about everything you went through and experienced. My thoughts are with all of you. And I’m so so happy to read about how life is for you now. You deserve the very best in life. Please take care and stay happy xxxx

T Frazier
T Frazier
2 years ago
Reply to  judy baldwin

So grateful that you are still with us. So very sorry for what you all endured. Will pray daily they never get out. Happy as well..that you all are not just surviving, but thriving. God bless.

Lisa
Lisa
3 years ago
Reply to  Tailwagger

Does it matter what race the children are? Horrible people do Horrible things……I’m sure both grandparents have lovely friends in prison…..bubbas just waiting for fresh meat! Hopefully, they won’t make it out alive!

Amy
Amy
3 years ago
Reply to  Lisa

Hopefully they won’t and I wish those monsters nothing but pain and suffering but no matter what, nothing is really justice for what they did to that handsome little man and the other children!

Gonna gettem
Gonna gettem
2 years ago
Reply to  Lisa

I hope they do. You can torture someone for a lot longer if you control the environment!

wow
wow
3 years ago

after reading what torment and torture those kids went through, who gives a rats ass that they misspelled a word.

Debby
Debby
3 years ago
Reply to  wow

I know right. She obviously knew what they meant. Grammar nazis really chap my hide

Ella
Ella
2 years ago
Reply to  Debby

people who use the word Nazi to describe people who point out grammatical errors are much worse, I assure you.

Lisa
Lisa
3 years ago
Reply to  wow

Because it can almost come across as disrespectful to this poor child’s memory. Especially since the sentence is describing the horrific conditions of this child’s life. Extra care should be taken to be perfectly clear when speaking about him. Poor baby.

missXvamp
missXvamp
2 years ago
Reply to  wow

Exactly. I’m sick of seeing people point out the spelling mistakes. Emily does all these articles and podcasts herself. Bringing attention to these crimes. Yet omg a spelling mistake!! Heaven forbid it must be much more important!. So annoying isn’t it hun.

Obvious Error
Obvious Error
3 years ago

Stomachs in emaciated children are “distended,” not “extended.”

Billy
Billy
2 years ago
Reply to  Obvious Error

They are both, because a “distended” stomach IS “extended”.

Rachel Kiossovski
Rachel Kiossovski
3 years ago

What episode is this???

Amy
Amy
3 years ago

Not sure what you mean but there is a video that aired years ago on his story. Let me see if I can post the link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-jF2p_dAYFA

Sonia Vickers
Sonia Vickers
3 years ago

God love them this is heart wrenching I hope the vile pair get put through hell In prison!!!! I’d love to know the details about the little girl, I pray to God that poor little girl has been placed with an amazing loving home and shes happy with a new life.

Amy
Amy
3 years ago
Reply to  Sonia Vickers

This happened almost 2 decades ago. Jeffrey Baldwin passes away in the morning of November 30th in 2002. I believe all 3 other children were placed into a good foster home on the same or following day where they stayed about 3 years, foster mom spoke in 2013 – seen a video awhile ago.
Not sure what happened to the children, I also hope they are all doing well.

T Frazier
T Frazier
2 years ago
Reply to  Amy

Judy Baldwin..Jeffrey’s sister commented..she and the remaining siblings are all in their 20s..and doing very well.. thankfully.

Michael Tobin
Michael Tobin
2 years ago
Reply to  Sonia Vickers

Where was your god at when these children were suffering for literally years? Was he merely working in mysterious ways or was it because everything happens for a reason?

Kar
Kar
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael Tobin

This was an awful awful thing that happened to a living person, a little boy at that. This is not something to turn into a point for your religious beliefs, have some compassion.

Kar
Kar
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael Tobin

This was a horrific event that happened to a REAL human being, a little boy at that. This is not something to turn into a point for your religious beliefs, grow up and have a little compassion.

Last edited 2 years ago by Kar
Heather Pitts
Heather Pitts
1 year ago
Reply to  Michael Tobin

I’m sure most ppl would use “free will” as the reasoning. Seems to be their answer a lot in situations like this. Even tho these children had no free will. I’m sorry but if the innocences are denied free will then I believe wholeheartedly, that is absolutely just cause to step in. Every rule has an exception, one shape or another, nothing is always just black and white. So I kinda agree with ya there

Kim
Kim
3 years ago

Who raised the rest of the Baldwin kids?

Amy
Amy
3 years ago
Reply to  Kim

All I know they all went to a good foster home together for about 3 years. Not sure what happened to them after that. I wasn’t able to find any other information beyond that.
The oldest sister came up when i did some google search but nothing specific.
They are all adults and they all would be in their 20’s now.

T Frazier
T Frazier
2 years ago
Reply to  Amy

Judy..who was locked up with Jeffrey..is doing well and so are the remaining surviving siblings.

Amy
Amy
3 years ago

Thank you for the article! We should never forget about this cute, handsome little angel who suffered so much but saved many kids including his sister. Jeffry’s story just stuck with me somehow years ago, breaks my heart 💔 and makes me cry every time for some reason. I believe the little girl Eva who died in Elvas care was only 5 months old not 5 years old. Also I believe they both got life in prison with the possibility of parol in 22 years for Elva and in 20 years for Norman. I hope the siblings are doing well… Read more »

Der
Der
3 years ago

Just heart breaking

Amy
Amy
3 years ago
Reply to  Der

Yes it is. PEOPLE NEED TO REPORT child abuse!
When I first heard about him from the media, I remember I just kept crying and saying “how can this happen especially here in Canada” !!?? I just couldn’t believe it. RIP Jeffrey ❤️ I cried so much over this little man and his siblings and still do every so often. Can’t even imagine what they must’ve went trough …

Last edited 3 years ago by Amy
Elle
Elle
3 years ago

HOW did child protection fail so badly?? Why was school not missing him? There should be regular checks for kinship kids! Who called the police? I can’t believe they didn’t even pretend to care – imagine no one going to the hospital with him. Heartbreaking.

Amy B
Amy B
3 years ago
Reply to  Elle

I don’t know, CCAS failed him and the other children big time! What those kids and the parents must have gone though it’s unimaginable and should NEVER EVER HAPPEN. They put though them hell including the other grandparents and I’m sure most of the family is hurting and will never get over this. Most of the allegations came from Elva the monster (hope someone gets rid of her or she rots in the Kitchener prison if she is still there who knows and the other shithead Norman too) And how did CCAS not check on them regularly?? I get they… Read more »

Amy B
Amy B
3 years ago
Reply to  Elle

The monster Elva called the police, at least she did 1 thing right but way too late 💔 yeah just unbelievable….

Michelle
Michelle
2 years ago

They,every adult in the house, needs life sentences, without parole, for murder. Or death. Just like the RICO act enacted for gangsters which means If you watch or take part or witness a murder in ANY way you get the SAME sentence. You are all so disgusting I feel physically sick.

Mr Firth
Mr Firth
1 year ago

I think of Jeffery often .
Another lad I think of is Randal Dooley . All those responsible ought to have been thrown in an oubliette .

L Camp
L Camp
1 year ago

Sorry, did you mean “typo”?

Gemma Sedgwick
Gemma Sedgwick
9 months ago

She will be out in 2028, he will be out in 2026.

Thats not far away. I hope they dont make it out. I hope prison justice is served fully.

Lori
Lori
5 months ago

Missed opportunities?!?! Give me a damn break! I’m a social worker and I worked in the U.S. in this system. The workers who visited this house must have been blinded from the inside. They need to be starving this woman to death in prison. I know it’s already 2023 but she needs to be truly punished along with Jeffrey’s biological mother and father AND the wimp man who was living in this house filling his fat belly with food while this sad little, innocent boy suffered for 4 years then crawled up the damn stairs and died of sepsis. What… Read more »

jean
jean
3 months ago

Spokesman Fernando Saldanha subsequently announced that they regretted not checking their files before granting custody of Jeffrey and his siblings to the couple. “If the records had been properly checked by the workers involved at the time, then the situation would have been very different.”4

That pretty much says it all…..so many children die or are in peril because of lazy ground work.

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