Ada Guan, a former Ottawa resident, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter of her five-year-old daughter, Chloe Guan-Branch, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tragic saga of Chloe’s life came to a close with this sentencing. In the spring of 2020, Chloe urgently needed medical attention as her bladder ruptured in their Ottawa home, leading to life-threatening complications. Despite her deteriorating condition, Ada Guan and her boyfriend, Justin Cassie-Berube, failed to seek medical help for six days. Concerned about authorities discovering the abuse Chloe endured, they avoided taking her to a hospital.
Chloe, who gained international attention for being born on a plane, tragically passed away alone in her room on May 15, 2020, while Ada and Cassie-Berube were preoccupied elsewhere. Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein handed down the 10-year sentence to Ada Guan, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter 17 months earlier. Guan’s bail was revoked following her repeated failures to appear in court before sentencing.
During the sentencing hearing, the Crown pushed for an 11- to 12-year sentence, emphasizing the severity of the case and the prolonged suffering Chloe endured. Guan’s defense lawyer cited her history of emotional abuse and controlling relationships as mitigating factors. Despite these challenges, the judge emphasized society’s condemnation of neglecting a vulnerable child and handed down the 10-year prison term.
Justin Cassie-Berube, Chloe’s ex-boyfriend, had previously been convicted and sentenced to 14 years for his role in Chloe’s death. Guan’s guilty plea to manslaughter allowed her to avoid facing the other charges related to Chloe’s tragic demise. The court proceedings were emotionally charged, with Chloe’s neighbor expressing deep remorse and a sense of personal transformation after witnessing the tragic events unfold.
In her statement to the court, Guan expressed profound regret for her inaction and failure to protect Chloe. While acknowledging the breach of trust Chloe placed in her, the judge also considered Guan’s history of abusive relationships in her decision. Guan now has 30 days to appeal the 10-year sentence, which accounts for the time she has already spent in custody.