After little Kaden Young was torn from his mother’s arms into the Grand River eight months ago, hundreds of people turned out to search for the 3-year-old boy.

For two months, volunteers kept turning out to look for Kaden in a case that united the community around Orangeville.

Now, the boy’s mother has been charged by Dufferin OPP in connection with her son’s death.

Michelle Hanson, 35, of Amaranth, was charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death.

She is scheduled to appear in an Orangeville courtroom on Nov. 6.

During a flood in the early hours on Feb. 21, police reported that Hanson, who was rescued by emergency responders near Dufferin County Road 109, drove past a road-closure sign marked by orange pylons. The boy was torn from her arms as she managed to escape the vehicle in the raging waters.

The little boy’s disappearance touched the community. Tributes including bouquets of flowers, blue ribbons and stuffed animals with messages saying “We love you Kaden,” were tied to poles and the guardrail on the bridge.

“Two long gruelling months, involving hundreds and hundreds of volunteers, the first couple of weeks there were 400 to 500 volunteers a day, even through the March break we had hundreds of people a day, which was amazing,” said OPP Const. Paul Nancekivell of the search at the time.

“It really rallied the community together. People showed up with excavators, boats. Any equipment we needed, we got it.”

“It is very emotional for them,” Nancekivell said in April.

Nearly two months after Kaden disappeared in the Grand River, the body of a small boy was discovered by a fisherman beneath a bridge along County Road 26 near Belwood Lake on April 21.

Three days later, an autopsy conducted by the coroner’s office positively identified the remains as belonging to Kaden.

A day after Kaden’s body was found, Hanson thanked the community for its efforts, in a Facebook post.

“We are wanting to thank everyone that has helped in the efforts to bring our son Kaden home. It has been a long extremely draining two months of searching and now has finally come to an end,” the post read. “The amount of support was absolutely incredible and we really can’t thank everyone enough.”

Of the charges brought against Hanson, the OPP said they would not comment on “specific details of the allegations to protect the integrity of ensuing court process.”

“The OPP sympathizes with and expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family of Kaden Young on his tragic loss. We also remember and recognize the many community residents and visitors who gave of their time to search for Kaden during the aftermath of this tragic incident.”

Read more:

Mother of Kaden Young thanks community after body found in river

Searchers brace for tragedy after child swept from mother’s arms

When asked why it took police nearly eight months to lay charges, Dufferin OPP Const. Paul Nancekivell said police were awaiting the results of forensic tests. He noted investigators sought the approval of the Crown Attorney’s office in Orangeville before laying charges.

“We had to run it through them. They basically directed us those are the charges to be laid,” Nancekivell said. “If they don’t like charges, they withdrawn them. It is better with serious ones like this to get it straight from them right off the bat what they want in terms of charges. That way, we’re not wasting time.”

Shortly after Kaden’s body was found, the OPP charged Hanson with assaulting the toddler’s father.

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While details about the alleged incident are scarce, the Banner has confirmed Dufferin OPP charged her with assaulting Cam Young on April 24. According to court documents, the charge relates to an alleged incident on April 12.

Hanson’s last court appearance on the assault charge took place in an Orangeville courtroom on Sept. 25.

—With files from Alanna Rizza, Raju Mudhar and The Canadian Press

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