Mother charged with 1st-degree murder in Scarborough daughter’s death
Posted May 13, 2026 5:38 am.
Last Updated May 14, 2026 1:39 pm.
Toronto police have charged a 37-year-old mother with first-degree murder in the death of her toddler in Scarborough.
Paramedics were called to 381 Port Royal Trail, a home near Midland Avenue and Steeles Avenue East, around 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday for reports of a patient in cardiac arrest.
EMS told CityNews that they transported the patient to the hospital in critical condition. Toronto police later confirmed that the victim was a child around two years old, who remained in critical condition at SickKids Hospital as of late Tuesday night.
In an update, police said the child died on Wednesday and they’re now investigating the case as a homicide — the city’s eighth of 2026.
A 37-year-old woman, identified as Si Ting Yang, is in custody and was confirmed to be the girl’s mother. She appeared in court on Thursday.
The toddler, named Oriana, was one month shy of her second birthday.
“It’s an extremely tragic case. It’s very difficult,” said Toronto police Det. Sgt. Henri Marsman of the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit. “It’s been hard for the first responders, the officers that first entered the house, as well as the paramedics, the firefighters and all officers that have had contact with this case.”
Sgt. Marsman said the child’s father phoned 911 on Tuesday. The couple did have another child who was not present at the time of the incident.
“The father wasn’t home,” Sgt. Marsman told reporters at the scene. “Police were already here.”
No additional details about the circumstances leading to the medical emergency have been released. A motive was not immediately clear.
“We’re doing a thorough investigation into the background of this woman,” said Sgt. Marsman. “The other child is safe. We have no concerns for the other child at this moment.”
The homicide case is active and ongoing.
