Manitoba family deaths: Mother of teen victim sues child welfare agency

WINNIPEG

The mother of a 17-year-old mass murder victim in Manitoba is suing a child welfare agency for allegedly failing to protect the girl.

Juliette Hastings alleges in the lawsuit that Winnipeg Child and Family Services, the General Child and Family Services Authority and the director of Child and Family Services were “reckless, careless and negligent in their legal duty” to her daughter, Myah-Lee Gratton.

The lawsuit was filed in the Court of King’s Bench on Monday. No statement of defense has yet been filed and the allegations have not been tested in court.

The statement of claim alleges that the home the teen was staying in was not properly vetted and investigated after Myah-Lee raised concerns about her safety.

Myah-Lee stayed at the house in Carman, Man. On February 11, police found the teen and four others dead in the home and surrounding area.

Ryan Manoakeesick faces five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Myah-Lee, his common-law partner, Amanda Clearwater, 30, and the couple’s three children: Bethany, 6, Jayven, 4, and the two months old Isabella Manoakeesick.

A trial date has yet to be set.

Court records show Manoakeesick struggled with methamphetamine addiction and suffered from anxiety and depression, as well as other underlying mental health issues. He was previously convicted of mischief and sentenced to 18 months’ probation in 2019.

The lawsuit says Manoakeesick had a known history of physical violence and instability.

“It was foreseeable that all occupants of the home were at risk of serious harm or death,” the document said.

Myah-Lee had been staying with the family since April 2023, after telling her mother she wanted to move out of their Winnipeg home, the lawsuit said. The teen received help from the child welfare agency.

The lawsuit says Hastings disapproved of the placement and notified the agency, and the woman was told not to have any communication with her daughter.

The Carman home was too small for the couple, their children and the teenager, the claim said.

“The house was in a chaotic state. It was unsanitary. It was an unsafe place for Myah-Lee,” the document claims.

In October 2023, there was a violent physical altercation involving Myah-Lee and Manoakeesick, the claim states. Child and Family Services was notified.

“Myah-Lee specifically requested (Child and Family Services) to move her out of that home for her safety. Child and Family Services refused and failed to take concrete steps to properly investigate and ensure Myah-Lee was safe,” the lawsuit alleges.

“(Child and Family Services) did not assist Myah-Lee in finding a safe home.”

The General Child and Family Services Authority, which oversees Winnipeg Child and Family Services, said Tuesday it had not been served with the lawsuit and could not comment.

According to the lawsuit, Hastings called the authority several times between April 2023 and February requesting that her daughter be placed in another home.

She also asked the authority to arrange for RCMP to do a welfare check at the home and remove her daughter, the lawsuit said.

It says the RCMP referred the request to the agency and the mother also called police.

Manitoba RCMP said it could not comment due to the lawsuit.

Myah-Lee also spoke to a school counselor in Carman and asked for help, the lawsuit states. It is believed the consultant contacted the authority but nothing happened, the document said.

The lawsuit says Myah-Lee’s death was “a direct result of the defendants’ gross negligence and inaction” because the authority failed to conduct a proper home study and ignored warning signs that the teen was in danger.

The lawsuit asks for general, aggravated and punitive damages, saying Hastings has “suffered emotional, physical and mental hardship as a result of Defendants’ failure to provide Myah-Lee with safety, protection and the necessities of life.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2024.