CANADA • Rayna GAGNE, 4 ~ Cambridge ON

Stepfather charged with murder in death of girl, 4
February 07, 2011


Rayna Gagne

A man has been charged in connection with the death of four-year-old Rayna Gagne at her home in Cambridge.

Waterloo Regional police say Robert William Boettger, 28, has been charged with aggravated assault and was remanded in custody.

Boettger was the live-in partner of Gagne's mother, Jenn Taylor. Taylor is grief-stricken and says her daughter was an amazing little girl.

"She was perfect, she was very perfect, she would light up a room. She was always smiling and laughing and she was just, she was a very, very amazing little girl and I don't know what I'm going to do now."

Taylor returned from work on Thursday to find police cars at her home and paramedics working on her daughter.

Emergency services were reportedly called to the townhouse complex on Queen Street West for an unconscious child. They found the girl with life-threatening head injuries.

Gagne was transported to Cambridge Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Hamilton. She died in hospital on Saturday due to her injuries.

Police say a post mortem examination found head trauma was a contributing factor in her death, though further testing has been ordered.

Boettger made a court appearance via video on Monday. The investigation is ongoing and further charges are expected within the next few days.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-650-8500 Ext. 8669 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Read more | Mother's worst nightmare

********** **********

Charges upgraded in death of Cambridge girl
February 8, 2011



Robert William Boettger, 28, has now been charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of four-year-old Rayna Gagne.

He had been charged with aggravated assault in the case and made a court appearance on Monday.

Waterloo Regional police detectives are apparently continuing their investigation, and the suspect is expected to appear in court on Wednesday to face the upgraded charges.

Gagne died in hospital two days after emergency services were called to her home in Cambridge for an unconscious child.

A post mortem examination found head trauma was a contributing factor in her death but further testing has been scheduled.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-650-8500 Ext. 8669 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110208/cambridge-charges-upgraded-110208/20110208/?hub=SWOHome


********** **********
Man charged in young girl's death appears in court
February 9, 2011



Robert William Boettger, 28, of Cambridge, made a court appearance on second degree murder charges in connection with the death of four-year-old Rayna Gagne.

Boettger remains in custody following the appearance on Wednesday, the first he has made in person since second degree murder charges were laid.

He reportedly showed no emotion, but acknowledged several people in the courtroom.

Boettger was initially charged with aggravated assault in the case, but charges were upgraded shortly after Gagne died of her injuries.

On Thursday, Feb. 3, emergency services were called to the Cambridge townhouse of Gagne's mother, Jenn Taylor, for a report of an unconscious child.

Gagne was found with severe head injuries and died in hospital two days later.

Boettger, who was Taylor's live-in boyfriend, had been babysitting Gagne while her mother was at work. Taylor returned home to find paramedics working on her daughter.

Taylor has described the four-year-old as an amazing girl who loved being a princess, playing with her Barbies, colouring and drawing.

Boettger will return to court via video link on March 1.

The defence lawyer, crown attorney and defendant's brother all declined to comment on the upgraded charge.

http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110209/boettger-court-murder-110209/20110209/?hub=SWOHome