Sandy Bay man found guilty of murdering 10-month-old girl

By Nigel Maxwell

A 28-year-old man charged with the death of his ex-girlfriend’s 10-month-old baby girl has been found guilty of second-degree murder and now awaits sentencing.

Robert Alexander Bear’s case was discussed last Friday at Court of King’s Bench in The Pas, Man.

On Aug. 11, 2020, Flin Flon RCMP received a report of an infant in medical distress in Flin Flon. Officers attended along with EMS and located an unresponsive 10-month-old girl who was pronounced dead.

In January 2021, following completion of a full medical report, the RCMP received further information that indicated the injuries sustained by the young child were not accidental and the matter was deemed to be a homicide.

Two months later, Bear was arrested at his home in Sandy Bay and transported to Manitoba, to answer to the charge.

Sources close to the incident have previously disclosed to paNOW that Bear was living with the girl’s mother, and was left alone to babysit while the mother was away at work.

The trial was held last May and the verdict was subsequently reserved to last Friday.

The case has now been adjourned to Aug. 8. It’s unclear, however, if the sentencing will be completed on that day.

In the meantime, a pre-sentence report has been ordered that will take a comprehensive look at Bear’s background, and will include Gladue factors. Those findings will then be used by the judge to make a more informed decision for sentencing.