Foster mom pleads guilty to assault that left six-year-old-girl paralyzed

A Winnipeg foster mother has admitted to violently assaulting her ill foster daughter and leaving her paralyzed after the girl resisted the woman’s efforts to provide her with medication, a court has heard.

Marilyn Keno, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of aggravated assault.

Keno remains in custody and will be sentenced at a later date following the completion of a court-ordered pre-sentence report.

The maximum sentence for aggravated assault is 14 years in prison. Crown attorney Alanna Littman and defence lawyer Jeremy Kostiuk did not disclose what sentences they will be recommending.

“It will not be a joint recommendation,” Littman told provincial court Judge Jay Funke.

Girl thrown to floor three times

Keno and her husband and co-accused Edward Monias, then 26, lived in a home owned by Island Lake Child and Family Services and cared for four foster children, including the then-six-year-old victim, Littman told court, reading from an agreed statement of facts.

Court heard the girl was “not feeling well” one evening in September 2025, and was vomiting when Keno tried to give her medication and the girl slapped Keno’s hand away. Keno, “now feeling agitated,” tried a second time to provide medication to the girl and she again refused, Littman said.

Keno, “in an angry state,” assaulted the girl, throwing her to the bedroom floor at least three times.

When Keno returned to the girl’s bedroom the following morning she “became aware that due to the assault, the victim had lost the use of her lower extremities and was paralyzed,” Littman said.

Keno used a thumbtack to prick the bottom of the girl’s feet to see if she would respond.

Unable to walk, the girl spent the entire day in bed and Keno made no effort to seek medical attention for her.

That night, Keno told Monias about the girl’s condition and help was still not sought for her.

Keno didn’t call 911 until the following evening when she saw the girl was having trouble breathing, could not speak, and was still unable to move her lower extremities, Littman said.

Keno lied to an emergency operator, claiming the girl had injured herself that day after falling from her bed while playing.

A recording of the 911 call is expected to be played for court when Keno is sentenced.

Victim paralyzed, uses wheelchair

The girl was taken to hospital in critical condition, suffering a broken neck, a fractured breast bone and extensive bruising to her face, body and genitals.

The girl remains paralyzed and uses a wheelchair.

“This is a direct result of the infliction of the abuse and due to the time lapse between the inflicted injury and seeking medical care,” Littman said.

The Winnipeg Police Service said at the time three other children were removed from the home, including one who had also been assaulted.

Search warrant documents obtained by the Free Press last year noted a respite worker visited the home the day of the incident to help the foster parents with child care. She didn’t go in the girl’s bedroom, because the parents said she was ill.

The next day, the parents emailed the worker and said she didn’t need to come because the girl was sick. Later that day, the foster parents called for paramedics.

Blood was found smeared throughout the girl’s bedroom and her bed sheets were soaked in urine, the court documents said.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said in December her department was investigating the “abominable case of abuse.” She said mandate letters were issued to child-welfare authorities in November and outlined objectives to keep families together, support the transition of jurisdiction as well as financial accountability and transparency.

Monias remains before the court charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca