Tammy Marquardt

Tammy was convicted in 1995 of second-degree murder in the 1993 death of her 2-year-old son, Kenneth. Tammy was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 10 years. Dr. Charles Smith, who at the time was considered an expert on criminally suspicious pediatric deaths, conducted the autopsy and concluded that Kenneth had been strangled or smothered. A report released as a result of the Goudge Inquiry stated that, Smith’s finding of asphyxia was “illogical and completely against scientific evidence-based reasoning.” It was suggested that Kenneth’s death could have occurred during an epileptic seizure or from natural causes. Tammy gave birth to two other sons, one while incarcerated, but both sons were removed from her care and adopted. Tammy was released in 2009 after spending 14 years incarcerated to await an appeal. On June 7, 2011, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned her conviction and ordered a new trial. Instead of proceeding with a new trial, the Crown withdrew all charges against Tammy. Tammy has, in recent years, seen her sons.