Caretaker charged with being accessory in murder of B.C. infant

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NEW HAZELTON, B.C. – A woman who was looking after a 21-month-old infant who was murdered has been charged with being an accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice.

Marion Joan Sampson, who was the caretaker of little Jor-el Wale when he died on June 3, appeared in court to face the two charges in the case in which a juvenile has been charged with murder, said Const. Craig Douglas.

Douglas said he could not draw the inference that Sampson was charged for her role in shielding the juvenile who was charged with second degree murder and obstructing justice in a bid to protect the young person.

“On June 3, 2009, at approximately 5:00 PM, New Hazelton RCMP and Emergency Health Services attended a residence in New Hazelton, BC, for an unresponsive 21-month-old male, Jor-el Wale,” he said.

“The child was immediately transported to Wrinch Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” he said.

Douglas could not say where the murder occurred or how the child died.

“RCMP North District Major Crime Unit assisted by the New Hazelton RCMP investigated the death of Wale. Initially the death was treated as suspicious. Further investigation and a Forensic Autopsy determined that the child died as a result of injuries sustained at the hands of another person,” he said.

“This elevated the investigation to a homicide. On June 11, 2009, a male was arrested by the Major Crime Unit for the Murder of Wale. The male is a young person and can not be identified,” he said.

Sampson was arrested as an accessory three days ago, he said.

She appeared in court in Smithers on Monday morning.