Toronto man charged after allegedly poisoning cereal, killing 3-year-old girl

A Toronto man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly poisoned a toddler’s breakfast cereal resulting in the death of a three-year-old girl.

Police say they opened an investigation on March 7.

It’s alleged the man obtained a controlled substance from his place of employment and subsequently placed the poison into the breakfast cereal of two toddlers during a sleepover.

The two children were hospitalized as a result and one, identified by her mother as Bernice, later died.

Police say the second child recovered after a lengthy stay in hospital.

On Saturday, police arrested and identified 45-year-old Francis Ngugi of Toronto who was charged with two counts of administering a noxious substance to endanger life, two counts of unlawfully causing bodily harm, and criminal negligence causing death.

Ngugi appeared in court on Sunday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Bernice’s mother, Maurine Mirembe, posted a GoFundMe page in her daughter’s honour which has since raised just over $44,000.

“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you, for the love, kindness and support – emotionally and financially you have shown me and my belated baby Bernice,” Mirembe said in an update on March 28.

“I will forever be humbled by your gesture of generosity, and assure you that my daughter is just as grateful from above.”

Mirembe wrote initially that after waking up the following morning, her child’s condition rapidly deteriorated.

She said that after calling 9-1-1 and arriving at the hospital, doctors couldn’t determine what was making Bernice ill. After multiple resuscitation attempts by the doctors, Bernice was taken off life support.

“Without falling sick, warning or a sign, my baby died, just like that,” she said. “I wish to lay her to rest back home in Uganda, where our heritage is, and where she would be at peace. I humbly call upon your assistance and request that you may help me fulfill this wish.”