Foster parents in The Pas charged in 2024 head-trauma death of six-year-old in their care

Two foster parents in The Pas have been criminally charged after a little girl in their care died in 2024 of a traumatic head injury believed to have been caused by an assault.

The Pas RCMP were called in after one of the caregivers took the six-year-old girl, with “serious injuries and bruises,” to the local hospital on Oct. 29, 2024, Mounties said Tuesday.

Health officials had the girl airlifted to Winnipeg for medical treatment. She died on Nov. 3 that year of head trauma.

Officials were initially told the girl had fallen from her bed, but RCMP major crime investigators later determined that she had been assaulted the day before she was taken to the hospital.

Earlier this month, RCMP said, Crown prosecutors authorized charges against the two caregivers, who were responsible for the girl’s health and well-being. Police arrested the couple on April 14.

Ashley Morach, 39, is charged with manslaughter, failing to provide the necessities of life and two counts of obstructing justice. Joel Morach, 35, has been charged with failing to provide the necessities of life. Both are from The Pas.

Mounties would not comment on the relationship between the accused couple and the girl, but a government official said the six-year-old was a ward of the child-welfare system and was in foster care.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, whose portfolio includes the child-welfare system, said she is bound by legislation that restricts what she can say about the circumstances of the girl’s death.

“What I can say is it’s being investigated, it’s before the courts.… Every time there’s a death of a child, it is referred to (the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth), so MACY has the opportunity to review it, once the criminal proceedings have completed,” said Fontaine.

“Every death of a child — in care, out of care — is a tragedy, is an absolute tragedy, and my heart goes out to the family and to the community.”

The provincial Families department may investigate the circumstances after the criminal proceedings are complete, said Fontaine.

Neither of the accused have been previously convicted of a crime in Manitoba, court records show.

The records indicate justice officials believe Ashley Morach attempted to obstruct justice between Oct. 29, 2024 and June 19, 2025, and again between Oct. 29, 2024 and Aug. 21, 2025.

It’s unclear why two counts of obstruction of justice have been laid. Such charges can be laid when an individual lies to police or interferes with legal proceedings.

Both of the accused are scheduled for court appearances this week.

RCMP declined a request for an interview with major crimes investigators Tuesday, but provided a statement that detailed the strain such child-death probes put on officers.

“Investigating the death of a child is one of the more difficult things a police officer will do over the course of their careers — particularly when the circumstances of the child’s death are suspicious in nature,” said the statement, issued through RCMP spokesman Kevin Engstrom.

“It can be both demanding from a professional standpoint and emotionally draining from a personal perspective.”

Child-death investigations are often complex and time-consuming.

“It requires evidence to be gathered from a variety of sources — including medical examiners, various witnesses and (if applicable) third-party agencies, followed by a thorough review by investigators putting together the case and the Crown’s office in determining whether charges are appropriate,” the statement said.

Lindsay Ridgley, a spokeswoman for MACY, said the office has been notified of the death of the girl, but would not comment on her involvement with the child-welfare system.

But Ridgley said, generally, if the girl or anyone in her family had received any reviewable service — including involvement in the child-welfare system, the youth justice system, youth mental-health or addictions services — within the 12 months that led up to her death, the advocate’s office could review the public services that were provided.

“We are unable to comment further at this time as the matter is before the courts,” Ridgley said.

— With files from Carol Sanders

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca