Article content

In a testament to the human spirit, a two-year-old Ottawa boy fended for himself for 10 days after his mother was killed in their fifth-floor apartment of a public housing building in Mechanicsville, the Citizen has learned.

Seasoned detectives and CHEO doctors have been left marvelling at the young boy’s health, and more, his will to survive.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Two-year-old Ottawa boy fended for himself in apartment for 10 days after mom was killed Back to video

The child was discovered during a routine fire alarm inspection at the apartment building on Burnside Avenue on March 22. The door was unlocked and when someone checked to make sure everyone was out of the unit during the drill, they found the boy alongside his dead mother.

The 35-year-old woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban, had been dead for 10 days.

Her death was considered suspicious and assigned to homicide detectives. On Thursday, after getting full autopsy reports, police charged crack dealer Mohamad S. Barkhadle, 31, with first-degree murder. Police allege the woman was killed on March 12.