Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Calgary Woman Diagnosed With Cancer Killed Adult Daughter With Down Syndrome

The Canadian Press, 01 Jan, 2016 02:50 PM
    CALGARY — A Calgary woman who gave a fatal dose of drugs to her 19-year-old daughter with Down syndrome can't be charged with a crime because she has since died.
     
    Police say Jessica Hagan was killed when she was given an intentional overdose by an older woman in the family's home in September.
     
    They say that woman was also found in medical distress and taken to hospital.
     
    Christine Hagan, who was 51, died on Nov. 21 of pancreatic cancer.
     
    Daniel Hagan wrote on his Tumblr social media account a week later about the deaths.
     
    He says his mother felt that she was the only one who could take care of his sister.
     
    "So she took her life and attempted to take her own," he wrote on Nov. 30.
     
    "She then spent her final days in a hospital bed with security outside her room until she became too weak and suffered from what I would assume is complete organ failure due to not eating or drinking the entire time."
     
    The body builder and personal trainer said he wanted to publicly write about what happened so he could move on with his life.
     
    "Losing my sister, my biggest fan, supporter, and greatest inspiration is a loss I know I will never truly recover from," he wrote in another post.
     
    He did not respond to a request for comment.
     
    Brian van Vliet said his sister, Christine Hagan, was diagnosed in May with stage 4 cancer and was extremely sick.
     
    "She was a wonderful person, very happy, family-oriented, very lively."
     
    He wouldn't say why he believes she killed her daughter. He said Christine Hagan had a husband at home and their son had also lived with them up until a few months before the killing.
     
    "You just have a normal family and then this series of tragic events takes place and it's just surreal," said van Vliet.
     
    He said Jessica was home-schooled and described her as a loving child.
     
    "Jessica was sunshine. She always brightened up the room," he said. "Everybody around her was always inspired by her."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    'Onslaught' Of Online Threats Follows Oregon College Shooting: Expert

    The University of Toronto, McMaster University in Hamilton and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., have also been targeted.

    'Onslaught' Of Online Threats Follows Oregon College Shooting: Expert

    Homicide Detectives Investigating After Soldier, Woman Fall To Their Deaths From Toronto Highrise

    Homicide Detectives Investigating After Soldier, Woman Fall To Their Deaths From Toronto Highrise
    Poilce say the bodies of Robert Giblin, 43, and Precious Charbonneau, 33, were found Sunday night after apparently falling from a highrise in central Toronto.

    Homicide Detectives Investigating After Soldier, Woman Fall To Their Deaths From Toronto Highrise

    Alberta's Finance Minister Says Low Oil May Delay Programs, Initiatives

    Alberta's Finance Minister Says Low Oil May Delay Programs, Initiatives
    Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci says millions of dollars in initiatives promised by the NDP government may be delayed due to low oil prices.

    Alberta's Finance Minister Says Low Oil May Delay Programs, Initiatives

    At Least 2 Canadians In Hospital After Driver Hits Pedestrians In Las Vegas

    At Least 2 Canadians In Hospital After Driver Hits Pedestrians In Las Vegas
    A hospital spokeswoman says two Canadians are among five people in either critical or serious condition after a woman intentionally drove her car into pedestrians on a sidewalk outside a Las Vegas casino.

    At Least 2 Canadians In Hospital After Driver Hits Pedestrians In Las Vegas

    Ontario Mom Disappointed At Reactions To Her Breastfeeding On Santa's Lap

    Ontario Mom Disappointed At Reactions To Her Breastfeeding On Santa's Lap
    Rebecca Dunbar says she had the picture taken mostly as a joke, but decided to post it in a bid to increase acceptance of the practice of nursing in public.

    Ontario Mom Disappointed At Reactions To Her Breastfeeding On Santa's Lap

    Dashing To The Store, Poll Suggests Most Canadians Haven't Done Holiday Shopping

    Dashing To The Store, Poll Suggests Most Canadians Haven't Done Holiday Shopping
    A poll suggests most Canadians will be spending some time over the next few days elbowing their way through crowded stores to buy that last holiday gift

    Dashing To The Store, Poll Suggests Most Canadians Haven't Done Holiday Shopping