Indian family members charged after dead baby found concealed in Nova Scotia woods

Two people appeared in Halifax provincial court on Monday after police investigating a missing newborn discovered human remains in a wooded area outside the city over the weekend. Sukhpreet Singh, 23, and wife Ramandeep Kaur, 26, were each charged with concealing the body of a child and indignity to human remains. Both are also facing charges of obstruction of justice and resisting a peace officer.

The pair appeared virtually and remain in custody ahead of a scheduled bail hearing for Thursday. Crown prosecutor Paul Carver requested a three-day adjournment, telling the court there was a “potential for additional very serious charges under these circumstances.” Carver also said, “The mother of the deceased newborn is currently in critical condition and unresponsive in the hospital," per Global News.

Police began investigating Friday night after emergency crews responded to a call involving a woman in life-threatening condition at an apartment building on Willett Street in Halifax’s Clayton Park area. Officers later said the woman appeared to have recently given birth, but no infant was located at the scene.

An overnight search involving Halifax Regional Police and Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue expanded through Saturday around the apartment complex and nearby areas. According to police, investigators later received new information that redirected the search roughly 10 kilometres away to the Prospect Road area near Goodwood, Nova Scotia.

At approximately 3:20 pm Sunday, officers located remains in a wooded section off Old Coach Road. Const. Martin Cromwell said four individuals known to the woman were initially detained during the investigation. Two were later released, while Singh and Kaur were charged.

“During the investigation process, we had four parties in custody,” Cromwell said. “During the interview process, officers learned of the second location.” Singh is described as being a "relative" of the baby's mother.

Police have not yet confirmed whether the newborn was born alive. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death.

Cromwell said investigators still have not been able to speak with the baby's mother because of her medical condition. “At this point, our investigators don’t believe that her condition is that of violence. She was brought in with a medical condition, medical circumstances,” Cromwell said. “So again, we don’t believe that there was any violence that occurred at this time.”

The Maritime Sikh Society released a statement Monday saying members were “deeply saddened by the recent tragic passing of a baby within our community," reports Global News.