Father of 15-month-old baby gives emotional testimony at manslaughter trial

The trial continues for a woman accused of manslaughter in the death of a toddler who died while in her care. Nick Paparella Reports

Kent McLellan testified that in the days and weeks following the death of his 15-month-old son Nathaniel in October 2015, he was suffering emotionally and physically.

“I was lifeless, I was spent, I was not in a good place,” he said.

“I love them all but... Nate was a good guy and he just loved being with people.”

He testified that in the days surrounding the child’s death from a brain injury, Nathaniel had been bumped by a door.

“It looks like he had some blemish on his forehead,” he said after he was shown a picture of his son. However, he went on to say he didn’t notice any other injury.

The next day, the toddler would be taken to the home daycare of Meggin Van Hoof in Strathroy, and just hours after being dropped off, McLellan received an alarming phone call that something was wrong with the child.

“They were asking me if I could come to the hospital, something had happened to Nate,” McLellan said.

“He was on a stretcher and he looked so... I gave him a kiss and noticed that he had suffered something on the left side of his head above his temple, there was some type of impact,” he added, fighting back tears.

After a lengthy police investigation that took years, officers would eventually charge the 46-year-old Van Hoof with manslaughter. She has pled not guilty.

McLellan testified that he had never met Van Hoof, however on the day Nathaniel was rushed to hospital, he received a text from her.

“She said, ‘This is Meggin... I’m at the ER (emergency room) I don’t see you... let me know what I can do,’” he recalled.

He said in time, he became increasingly frustrated with how the police investigation was moving along.

“They didn’t eliminate us as suspects, and I thought that was wrong,” he said.

His testimony resumes on Wednesday.