Our condolences go out to everyone who loved this baby boy.
Two Edmonton parents have been charged in the death of their 25-day-old son, nearly 21 months after he died.
Police say the medical examiner found the baby died of severe acute malnutrition and dehydration, and ruled his death a homicide.
His parents, Lexi Tingley, 24, and Wolf Song Benson, 34, were each charged on Thursday, Nov. 5, with failing to provide the necessaries of life and criminal negligence causing death. Edmonton police announced the charges Friday morning.
None of the charges has been proven in court. Both are presumed innocent.
What police say happened
On Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, emergency crews were called to the area of 33 Street and 116A Avenue in northeast Edmonton for a 25-day-old boy in medical distress.
He was taken to hospital. He died there.
The EPS Homicide Section started investigating the next day. After an autopsy and what police call an “extensive review,” the Edmonton medical examiner found the cause of death was severe acute malnutrition and dehydration. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Police haven’t released the baby’s name or said anything about his health before crews arrived.
What a homicide ruling means
The word sounds like murder. It isn’t.
When a medical examiner rules a death a homicide, it means the death was caused by another person’s actions or failure to act. It doesn’t say whether anyone meant for it to happen, and it doesn’t decide whether anyone is guilty of a crime. That’s a separate process, in court.
Neither parent is charged with murder or manslaughter.
The two charges
Failing to provide the necessaries of life. Under section 215 of the Criminal Code, parents have a legal duty to provide the basic necessities of life to children under 16. That includes food, water, shelter and medical care. It becomes a crime when someone fails to meet that duty without a lawful excuse and the child’s life or health is put at risk. Prosecuted as an indictable offence, the maximum is five years in prison. It can also go ahead as a less serious summary offence.
Criminal negligence causing death. Under sections 219 and 220, criminal negligence means doing something, or failing to do something you have a legal duty to do, in a way that shows “wanton or reckless disregard” for someone’s life or safety. If that causes a death, the maximum sentence is life in prison.
The Crown has to prove every part of each charge beyond a reasonable doubt, including that the negligence caused the death. The maximums are what the law allows. They aren’t a prediction.
Why did it take 21 months?
The baby died on Feb. 4, 2025. The charges came on Nov. 5, 2026.
Police haven’t said when the medical examiner reached the homicide ruling, what the investigation involved, or why it took this long. Autopsies, toxicology and medical reviews in infant deaths can take many months, but EPS hasn’t said whether that was the reason here.
What we don’t know yet
The police release is short. It doesn’t say:
whether either parent is in custody or has been released
when they’re due in court
whether other children lived in the home
whether child protection services had been involved with the family
We’ll update this story when more is confirmed.
How to report a concern about a child in Alberta
If you think a child is being abused or neglected, call Alberta’s Child Intervention Provincial Intake Line at 1-800-638-0715. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and you can report anonymously.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
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