Lengthy manslaughter trial of babysitter charged in toddler’s death now adjourned until April

The trial of a woman accused in the death of 15-month-old Nathaniel McLellan has been adjourned following testimony of a triage nurse. Nick Paparella reports.

After commencing in the fall, the lengthy manslaughter trial of a former Strathroy babysitter charged years after a toddler died has been delayed again until the spring.

Meggin Van Hoof has pled not guilty in connection with the death of 15-month-old Nathaniel McLellan, a child who was under her care.

Over the past several months the court has heard the infant was rushed to hospital with a head injury after collapsing in October 2015.

In court on Friday, Terry McCarthy, the triage nurse who first examined the child at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, testified at the trial.

“I think he had a little laceration on his forehead,” she said.

McCarthy testified she took the child’s clothes off and, “He was stiff as a board and his feet were pointed.”

She added the child’s mother Rose-Anne Van De Weile was upset while at the hospital told her Nathaniel was at the babysitter and had fallen down the stairs.

Later in the day Erin Donahue testified that her children were also cared for by Van Hoof and that on the day of the incident the accused spoke briefly to her.

“She said that somebody got injured in her care,” she said.

The witness added, “It was more severe than first realized.”

Donahue checked in on Van Hoof’s well-being through text messages.

With delays due to scheduling and legal arguments, the lengthy trial has now been adjourned until April 15, 2026.