CANADA • Marissa WHALEN, 2 / Accused: Roseanne Whalen (mother), Rainbow Hill and Amanda Dipota ~ Fort Erie ON

Mom and family acquaintance charged in toddler's death
Police searching for body of two-year-old girl, missing since July
October 14, 2011

A 23-year-old Fort Erie mother is charged with criminal negligence causing death in connection with the death of her two-year-old daughter, Marissa Whalen, who hasn't been seen since July. Police also charged a family acquaintance with second-degree murder in the same case.

The body of Marissa Whalen has not yet been found but detectives say they are confident the toddler met with foul play.

"At this time the remains of the deceased have not been located, we will continue to work diligently to accomplish this recovery," said Staff Sgt. Jim Prinsen, head of the Niagara Regional Police major crime unit.

The toddler had been missing since the end of July. Police did not receive a report of her disappearance until Saturday.

Niagara Regional Police arrested 23-year-old Roseanne Whalen, the girl's mother, Friday and charged her with criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains.

On Thursday, police charged Rainbow E. Hill, a 28-year-old Fort Erie woman, with second-degree murder in Marissa's death. Police said Hill and Whalen are acquaintances.


Rainbow E. Hill, a 28-year-old Fort Erie woman, is shown in a photo from Facebook.
Hill is charged with second-degree murder in Marissa Whalens death. Police say she is an
acquaintance of Roseanne Whalen, the childs mother, who has also been arrested and charged with
criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains.

Whalen was held in custody pending a bail hearing in St. Catharines on Saturday.

Hill made a brief court appearance in St. Catharines Friday afternoon, but was held in custody. Hill requested through a lawyer that her name not be published.

The justice of the peace said she had no authority to make such an order.

Hill was remanded in custody until the charges are dealt with. With murder cases, it is up to the accused to request a bail hearing in a higher court.

The justice of the peace ordered Hill not communicate with three people who are witnesses. Her next appearance is Nov. 1 to update court about whether she has hired a lawyer.

Police were first called to a Fort Erie home Oct. 8 after receiving information regarding a missing child.

The circumstances of the toddler's disappearance led police to believe that foul play was involved and the missing persons case quickly escalated into a homicide investigation.

No one answered the door at an Emerick Ave. home court documents indicate was where Hill was living.

When police discovered the girl was missing, they did not issue an Amber Alert as it would not have assisted in the matter, said NRP Const. Sal Basilone.

"Police received information that led them to believe they were dealing with a homicide," he said.

Police did not release any information about the incident until Friday afternoon.

Basilone said investigators had good reason to wait six days before publicly releasing any information on the matter.

"They made the decision based on information they were receiving in an effort to work different angles related to evidence, witness statements, substantiate the evidence that was being presented," Basilone said.

"It is something that is carefully considered," Basilone said. "It's not haphazardly done."

Prinsen said the integrity of the investigation could have been compromised had police released information earlier.

"Any prior release of information would have significantly hampered our ability to conduct a complete investigation,' he said.

Prinsen would not comment on whether there was a connection between the Fort Erie case and an investigation taking place Friday on Six Nations.

Rumours were flying about an evacuation or murder probe as police blocked off a rural road Friday for an undisclosed investigation.

On the native reserve near Brantford, police had blocked off a rural road for their own investigation, but Six Nations police Chief Glenn Lickers would not release any information about it. A press release said the road closure would stay in effect until some time Saturday.

Police are asking any witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information on the matter can call police at 905-688-4111, ext. 4251, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or online at www.niagaratips.com.

"As in the case with most of our investigations, we want people to contact us if they have any information, especially so in homicide investigations," Basilone said.

"Information from the public is vital."

Meanwhile, October is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This past year, Family and Children's Services of Niagara responded to 3,970 child protection referrals about the care and safety of children in the Niagara Region.

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3334447

Police continue search for body of toddler
Mother appears in St. Catharines court
October 15, 2011


Two-year-old Marissa Whalen has not been seen since July.
Pictured above is a photo of Marissa as an infant that appears on a
memorial page on Facebook.

As Niagara police searched for the body of a two-year-old girl at a native reserve near Brantford, the toddler's mother stood in shackles in a St. Catharines courthouse.

Marissa Whalen was last seen at her home in Fort Erie in July.

The Niagara Regional Police and the Six Nations Police Service are now searching for the girl's body at the Six Nations reserve on Third Line in Oshweken, near Brantford.

"It is our hope that our current efforts lead to the recovery of Marissa's remains," Staff Sgt. Jim Prinsen, head of the NRP major crime unit, said Saturday afternoon.

Police did not receive a report of Marissa (pictured as an infant in the main photo) having disappeared until Oct. 8.

An acquaintance of Marissa's mother was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree murder. Twenty-four hours later, the girl's 23-year-old mother was also arrested.

. . . . . . .
Roseanne Whalen, 23 . . . . . . . . . Rainbow Hill, 28

Charged with criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains is Roseanne Whalen.

Charged with second-degree murder is Rainbow E. Hill, 28, of Fort Erie.

Whalen made a brief court appearance in St. Catharines on Saturday.

Wearing a navy blue Adidas sweat shirt and her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, the handcuffed young woman stood crying in the prisoner's box as a justice of the peace asked her if she was aware of the charges against her.

"Yes," she cried, nodding her head.

Duty counsel Wayne Brooks asked the court to postpone the matter so that Whalen could contact a lawyer. She was remanded in custody until Tuesday.

A publication ban was imposed for the remainder of the court proceedings at the request of assistant Crown attorney Graeme Leach.

Hill, meanwhile, will appear in court Nov. 1.

Although Marissa hadn't been seen for almost three months, police did not receive a report of her disappearance until last Saturday.

Police believe members of the public may have relevant information about the case and are asking for any information that might contribute to their investigation. Anyone with information can call the police at 905-688-4111 ext. 4251 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3335305

Body of missing Ont. girl found
October 16, 2011



A child's remains found by Niagara police at a native reserve near Brantford, Ont., are believed to be those of a two-year-old Fort Erie, Ont., girl missing since July,

Niagara Regional Police announced late Sunday afternoon the remains of a young child were found within the Six Nations Territory in Ohsweken, near Brantford.

The body was located around 2 p.m. near a trail that runs through a wooded area police had been scouring for the past two days.

Investigators could not immediately say if the body found is that of Marissa Whalen, but a forensic review will take place in the coming days.

"Further work will be done to confirm (the identity), but we have no indication that it is anyone other than her," Niagara Regional Police Supt. Cliff Sexton said Sunday.

The toddler's tiny body will remain at the scene so the coroner's office and a forensic anthropologist can conduct a complete examination, said Det. Sgt. Jim Prinsen, head of the major crime unit.

"This has obviously been a difficult investigation for everyone involved," he said of the multi-unit effort to find the missing girl.

Police also announced Sunday they have arrested a third person in the alleged slaying of the child.

Amanda Dipota, 30, of Niagara Falls, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains. Dipota is expected to attend a bail hearing in St. Catharines, Ont., court Monday.

An acquaintance of Marissa's mother was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree murder. Twenty-four hours later, the girl's 23-year-old mother was also arrested.

Charged with criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains is Marissa's mother, Roseanne Whalen, of Fort Erie.

Charged with second-degree murder is Rainbow E. Hill, 28, also of Fort Erie. Dipota is Hill's sister.

Police have described Roseanne Whalen and Hill as acquaintances.

A childhood friend of Whalen's, who wished to remain anonymous, said the two women had been dating for more than a year.

Carolyn Day, 30, of Niagara Falls, dated Hill before Hill began seeing Whalen.

All three hung out together in the months while Whalen was pregnant with Marissa and after the baby was born in 2009, she said.

"She was a beautiful baby," Day said. "She was born healthy. She had 10 fingers, 10 toes, blonde, curly hair, blue eyes -- a very beautiful baby."

After Marissa's birth, Day said she and Hill fell out because Hill began seeing Whalen.

Hill is also a mother of two young children, Day said.

Hill appeared in court last week and is scheduled to return to court Nov. 1.

Whalen made a brief court appearance in St. Catharines Saturday. Wearing a navy blue Adidas sweatshirt and her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, the handcuffed young woman stood crying in the prisoner's box as a justice of the peace asked her if she was aware of the charges against her.

"Yes," she cried, nodding her head.

Duty counsel Wayne Brooks asked the court to postpone the matter so Whalen could contact a lawyer. She was remanded in custody until Tuesday.

A publication ban was imposed for the remainder of the court proceedings at the request of assistant Crown attorney Graeme Leach.

Meanwhile, words of condolences as well as angry comments have been flooding in on a memorial site to Marissa on Facebook.

One poster on wrote: "To them you may have been nothing :( but, babygirl to the world you where everything!! ..we will find you and lay u to rest.. give u life u should of been handed from the start."

Many people are questioning how a little girl could disappear in July and not be reported missing for almost three months.

"It's not like (Whalen) just lives in a city where she has no family support, so it would take them months to know if something happened, you know what I mean?" Day said. "There were people involved in Marissa's life."

Day organized search parties over the weekend to look for Marissa's remains in Chippawa, where Hill formerly lived.

"This little girl is all I think about. My daughter is around the same age and it really hits home," said Sarah Ritchie, an acquaintance of Whalen.

Many posters on a Facebook page directed their anger and frustration at Family and Children's Services (FACS) of Niagara.

Several people claim FACS was contacted previously in regards to issues involving the two women. Officials with the child protection agency could not be reached for comment over the weekend.

While Marissa was last seen July 29, a report was not made to police until Oct. 8.

The ongoing investigation, Prinsen added, will look at why no one reported the little girl missing for nearly three months.

"Obviously, it's concerning that a child can be missing for that length of time without the authorities being notified," he said.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/16/body-of-missing-ont-girl-found

Bail hearing date for Roseanne Whalen to be set Oct. 26
October 19, 2011

As police await the results of forensic tests to determine whether a child's body found near Brantford is that of missing Fort Erie toddler Marissa Whalen, her mother made a brief court in St. Catharines.



Roseanne Whalen, 23, is charged with criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains.

She appeared briefly in bail court Wednesday afternoon.

Duty counsel Bill Hewitson requested the matter be adjourned until Oct. 26, at which time her defence counsel, Niagara Falls lawyer Geoffrey Hadfield, is expected to make arrangements for a bail hearing for his client.

Whalen will remain in custody pending her bail hearing.

Also charged is Rainbow Hill, 28. Hill is charged with second-degree murder.

Amanda Dipota, 30, Hill's sister, is also charged with accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains.

A child's remains found on Six Nations land near Ohsweken on Sunday are believed to be those of Marissa Whalen.

Niagara Regional Police have said that Marissa had been missing since late July, but that they had not been notified about the disappearance until early October.

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3339611

snipped.....

NRP spokesman Const. Sal Basilone declined to comment as to whether Hill or Whalen were known previously to police.

"We cant provide this type of info," Basilone wrote in an e-mail. "The matter is now before the courts."

A cousin of Whalen's said on Monday that the family had been trying to see the baby in the past few months.

"Everyone is saying the family did nothing, but they don't know what we tried to do," said the cousin, who would not give her name. "They kept moving. When we found them, the next day they would be gone out of the house. They moved three times in three months. They don't know how hard we tried to find that baby."

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3337775

Marissa Whalen, 2 yrs old, missing since late July but her disappearance was not reported until October.


-----

.....Roseanne Whalen is charged in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Marissa---facing charges of criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder & indignity to human remains.

2 other women are also charged in the case.

Rainbow Hill, Whalen's reported girlfriend is charged with 2nd degree murder.

Hill's sister, Amanda Dipota is facing charges of accessory after the fact to murder & indignity to human remains. She will appear by video in court Monday.

http://www.610cktb.com/news/local/Story.aspx?ID=1558261

Ex: Rainbow Hill 'unstable, manipulative'

An ex-girlfriend is speaking out tonight about the woman accused in the murder of two-year old Marissa Whalen.
Rainbow Hill, 28, of Fort Erie has been charged with second-degree murder in Marissa's death.

As Lauran Sabourin reports, the woman who lived with Hill has some stunning allegations about her former partner.

View VIDEO Report

snipped.....

FACS Niagara turned away reports from close friends of the mother

What appears to be very troubling with this child’s death is that testimony would appear to support that workers with FACS Niagara had plenty of advanced warning signs that the child as at risk and that Ms. Hill was violent and abusive.

Court Watch spoke to Carolyn Day, a former friend and partner to both the accused and she stated that she called FACS on more than one occasion to report incidences of abuse involving the children by Ms. Hill. Others had called FACS as well.

Some of the information that callers gave to FACS Niagara workers included the following:
• Both the child’s mother and her same sex partner, Rainbow Hill, were abusing drugs sometimes with the children present.
• That Ms. Hill’s children had called Ms. Day on more than one occasion to report violent altercations between Ms. Hill and the Marissa’s mother, Roseanne Whalen.
• That there was a Peace Bond against Ms. Hill as a result of physical violence by Ms. Hill against Ms. Day after their relationship had ended.
• That Ms. Hill would smear her younger child’s face with dirty underpants when she got angry.

On one occasion back in early 2010, Ms. Day received a call from Ms. Hill’s older daughter who
was eight years of age at the time.
Ms. Hills’s 8-year-old daughter called Ms Day on a number of times saying that she was frightened during her mother’s spells of violence.
Ms. Day said she could hear yelling and screaming from Marissa’s mother and Ms. Hill and
could also hear objects being broken in the background.

According to Ms. Day, when she told FACS worker, Carmela Petty, about one of the children
calling her about what was happening in the home, she was told that the CAS were not going to follow up because the FACS workers believed that Ms. Day was making stories up because Ms. Hill had broken up with her earlier.

Read more

ID on child's remains could take 1 month
October 20, 2011

It could be the middle of November before we know for sure if remains found on Six Nations territory near Brantford belong to Marissa Whalen.



The 2-year-old was reported missing from Fort Erie in early October, but police think she was killed in late July.

Police found the remains of a small child at Ohsweken Sunday. They were discovered in a wooded area, off an ATV trail. Police said the remains were concealed but wouldn't give any more detail about their condition.

Staff Sergeant James Prinsen with Niagara Regional Police's Major Crime Unit tells 610 CKTB News, the child's remains were brought to the office of the Chief Coroner in Toronto & an examination was started Monday.

Part of that examination is DNA testing to determine if the remains belong to Marissa Whalen.

Prinsen says that process is expected to take 2-4 weeks. Police say they don't have reason to believe the remains belong to anyone else.

NRP officers wrapped up their search for more evidence at Ohsweken Wednesday.

3 women are charged in Marissa's death, including her mother.

Roseanne Whalen is facing charges of criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder & indignity to human remains.

Rainbow Hill, Whalen's reported partner, is charged with 2nd degree murder.

Hill's sister, Amanda Dipota is facing charges of accessory after the fact to murder & indignity to human remains.

Whalen & Dipota will be back in court next week.

http://www.610cktb.com/news/local/Story.aspx?ID=1559008

Woman charged in Marissa Whalen's death in court Monday
October 23, 2011

A woman charged in the death of a Fort Erie toddler will be back in court Monday morning.



Amanda Dipota is charged with accessory after the fact to murder & indignity to human remains.

She'll appear by video in a St. Catharines courtroom.

Dipota is charged in the death of Marissa Whalen.

The 2-year-old was reported missing earlier this month, but police believe she was killed in late July.

They're pretty sure remains of a child found on Six Nations territory near Brantford belong to the girl. It could be the middle of November before DNA tests confirm it.

Amanda Dipota is the older sister of Rainbow Hill, the reported girlfriend of Marissa Whalen's mother.

Hill & Roseanne Whalen are both charged in the toddler's death.

http://www.610cktb.com/news/local/Story.aspx?ID=1560035

Accused in toddler death back in court Friday
October 24, 2011

A woman charged in the death of a Fort Erie toddler made a brief video appearance in a St. Catharines courtroom Monday morning.

Dressed in a black, Amanda Dipota appeared from the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton. She spent most of her 2 minute appearance consulting with her lawyer.

9 friends & family members were in the courtroom, one woman wiped tears from her eyes.

Dipota will be back in court Friday morning, appearing again by video.

Dipota is charged in the death of Marissa Whalen.

The 2-year-old was reported missing earlier this month, but police believe she was killed in late July.

They're pretty sure remains of a child found on Six Nations territory near Brantford belong to the girl. It could be the middle of November before DNA tests confirm it.

Amanda Dipota is charged with accessory after the fact to murder & indignity to human remains.

Amanda Dipota is the older sister of Rainbow Hill, the reported girlfriend of Marissa Whalen's mother.

Hill & Roseanne Whalen are both charged in the toddler's death.

Roseanne Whalen's next court date is Wednesday by video.


http://www.610cktb.com/news/local/Story.aspx?ID=1560353

Mother of Marissa Whalen makes court appearance
October 26, 2011

The Fort Erie mother charged in the death of her two-year-old daughter Marissa made a brief court appearance by video in St. Catharines Wednesday.




Roseanne Whalen, 23, will appear again on Nov. 3 in video court to set a date for a bail hearing in Superior Court.

She is currently being held in the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton on charges of criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains.

Whalen's lawyer Geoffrey Hadfield told her via video that he was meeting with her cousin prior to setting the bail hearing date.

Read more

November 1, 2011 - Rainbow Hill, the woman accused of murder in the death of Fort Erie tot Marissa Whalen, was in tears in a brief court appearance Tuesday morning.



Hill emerged in the prisoner's box in the Fort Erie provincial court accompanied by two Niagara Regional Police special constables. It was her first court appearance since Oct. 14, the day after she was arrested.

Wearing a green jail-issued jumpsuit and glasses, Hill at first showed no emotion, but after making eye contact with several people who were in the court, she broke down.

Hill's lawyer, Bobbie Walker, declined to comment afterwards.

Hill, 28, of Fort Erie, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of the two-year-old Whalen.

Police said the child had been missing since July and that they were notified of the disappearance in October.

On Oct. 16, a child's remains were found by police on Six Nations land near Ohsweken, Ont. Police have not confirmed that the remains are of Marissa Whalen, and have said that it could take weeks before a positive identification is made.

The case sparked an outpouring of grief in Niagara, with more than 150 people attending a vigil in memory of Marissa on Oct. 17 in Fort Erie.

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3353873

Vigil held to mourn Marissa Whalen
November 06, 2011



snipped . . . . .

Calbury, a Niagara Falls mother of three, said she hoped to raise awareness in the community about children like Marissa. "I wanted to get the word out there and get Marissa's voice heard."

The ceremony was organized by Niagara Falls resident Carolyn Day, who knew Marissa Whalen and her family. She said the native community, of which Marissa belonged, needed a chance to say goodbye to the girl.

"We haven't gotten any closure," she said. "A lot of the community has the why question. Why did it happen? It lets our community come together for Marissa. Lets her know she's loved."

The ceremony started outside with a community circle before moving indoors for native drummers and singers.

A display at the front of the church was made up of teddy bears, candles and photos of Marissa. Photos were also shown on a screen at the front of the church. Pink balloons were released after the ceremony.

Read more

Accused in toddler death appears in court
November 16, 2011

The woman accused of second-degree murder in the death of a Fort Erie toddler appeared briefly in video court in St. Catharines Wednesday.

A lawyer representing Rainbow Hill, 28, requested she return to court in person on Friday. The court was told an additional charge may be laid against Hill at that time.

Hill, of Fort Erie, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of two-year-old Marissa Whalen. She's currently being held at the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton.

Hill's sister Amanda Dipota, 30, of Niagara Falls, also appeared in court by video from the jail Wednesday. Dipota was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains. She'll appear again by video in St. Catharines on Nov. 25 to set a date in Superior Court.

Marissa Whalen had been missing since July but police said they were notified of her disappearance in October. The body of a child found by police on Six Nations land near Brantford on Oct. 16 is believed to be that of the toddler. Tests are still being done to confirm the identity.

The toddler's mother, Roseann Whalen, 23, of Fort Erie was also charged in the case with criminal negligence causing death, accessory after the fact to murder, and indignity to human remains.

Whalen is scheduled to appear in court in Fort Erie on Dec. 6.

http://www.thoroldedition.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3371806

Child’s body not yet identified

January 6th, 2012

Almost three months after being delivered
to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto, the tiny body discovered
in a wooded area near Brantford remains without a name.

Marissa Whalen

While Niagara police believe the body to be that of missing Fort Erie toddler
Marissa Whalen, detectives cannot conclusively identify the remains
pending forensic confirmation from the Toronto lab.
"We are still waiting on DNA confirmation from CFS," Det. Sgt. Danny Savoie, of the
Niagara Regional Police major crime unit, said Friday.
Ontario's Centre of Forensic Sciences is one of the most extensive forensic
science facilities in North America. It conducts scientific
investigations in cases involving injury or death in unusual
circumstances as well as crimes against persons or property.
The NRP launched an investigation Oct. 8 after two-year-old Marissa was
reported missing. Investigators quickly determined, however, the child
had been missing from her Fort Erie home since July.
Police said at that time they were confident the toddler had met with foul play.
Two women, including Marissa's mother Roseanne Whalen, were charged in connection with missing child.
Two days later, the remains of a child were discovered in the Six Nations community of Ohsweken, near Brantford.
Roseanne Whalen, 23, appeared briefly in a St. Catharines court Friday via a
video link from the prison she's called home since her arrest Oct. 14.
The Fort Erie woman is charged with second-degree murder, criminal
negligence causing death and accessory after the fact to murder.
She is scheduled to appear in court in Fort Erie Jan. 17 to set a date for her trial.

Meanwhile, Amanda Dipota, 30, is set to appear in court in St. Catharines Jan. 13.
The Niagara Falls resident is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to human remains.
Dipota's sister Rainbow Hill, 28, will appear in St. Catharines court on Jan.
25. The Fort Erie woman is also charged with second-degree murder.
The case sparked an outpouring of grief across Niagara, with more than 150
people attending a vigil in memory of Marissa on Oct. 17 in Fort Erie.
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3427939