WARNING | The following story includes graphic details of an assault on a child:
A foster mother repeatedly threw a sick young girl in her care to the floor, breaking her neck and causing life-altering injuries in the process.
Marilyn Keno, 26, admitted to that and more on Friday when the foster mother pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault in Winnipeg that roiled the First Nation community where the girl is from late last year.
“[The girl] now has permanent paralysis as a direct result from the infliction of abuse and due to the time lapse between the inflicted injuries and seeking medical care,” Crown attorney Alanna Littman told provincial court Judge Jay Funke at the Winnipeg Law Courts building Friday.
The girl, who is from one of four Island Lake-area First Nations, was in the care of Keno and her 26-year-old husband in Winnipeg when she was paralyzed during the assault last fall.
Court heard Friday the six-year-old was ill in bed when Keno tried to give her medicine sometime between the evening of Sept. 17 and the next morning.
On the first attempt, the girl started vomiting and slapped Keno’s hand away, Littman said. Keno, feeling “agitated,” tried again, but the girl again refused.
“Keno, in an angry state, proceeded to assault [her] by throwing her down onto the ground at least three different times,” Littman said.
Police removed four children from this Winnipeg home in September. (Gary Solilak/CBC)
“The victim had now lost the use of her lower extremities and was paralyzed, [and] the accused proceeded to use a thumb tack to pierce the victim’s skin numerous times on the bottom of her feet to get her to respond.”
The girl remained in bed the entire day of Sept. 18. Keno made no attempts to get her medical care.
Court heard that by that evening, her 26-year-old husband became aware of the girl’s condition, but nothing was done to get her help.
By Sept. 19, the girl was struggling to breathe and still unable to move her lower body. That’s when Keno finally called 911, court heard.
She told the operator “her daughter had fallen from her bed that day while playing,” Littman said.
The girl was rushed to Children’s Hospital in critical condition. That’s where it became apparent she had suffered two fractures to her neck and one to her breastbone.
The girl also had bruised lungs and “extensive” bruising all over her body, court heard, along with cuts to the bottom of her feet.
She also had a bed sore on her lower back and “chemical burns or tape marks” on her face, court heard.
Injuries to her neck also meant the girl struggled to speak when she arrived at hospital, court heard.
She was one of four children removed from the home when Keno and her husband were arrested Sept. 19.
Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Sherry Gott, Manitoba’s advocate for children and youth, both pledged to conduct investigations.
Eleven months after being paralyzed, the girl, while in a wheelchair, gave an interview as part of the investigation in mid-June.
Littman suggested details from that interview, audio of the 911 call and photos of the girl’s injuries are anticipated to be presented at Keno’s upcoming sentencing.
So, too, will expert opinions from a pediatric neurologist and pediatric child abuse physician, and potentially victim impact statements, Littman said.
Neither Littman nor Keno’s defence lawyer, Jeremy Kostiuk, said in court Friday what sentences they’ll be seeking. Littman noted it wouldn’t be a joint recommendation.
Aggravated assault carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in Canada.
Keno was originally expected to go to trial. On condition of her pleading guilty to aggravated assault, Littman stayed charges of assault and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Keno’s husband is charged with failing to provide necessaries of life. He isn’t expected in court until next spring, a Manitoba Justice official said.
He was released from custody last fall and arrested again on Nov. 24. The man was then charged with assault with a weapon and failing to comply with an undertaking related to another child in his care who was assaulted, police said at the time.
The assault allegedly happened sometime between March 2025 and Sept. 19 of that year, a Manitoba Justice spokesperson said.