A woman previously residing in Ottawa, convicted of manslaughter in the tragic death of her five-year-old daughter during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term, with some time already served subtracted. This verdict marks the conclusion of the sorrowful and peculiar story of Chloe Guan-Branch’s life.
In the spring of 2020, Chloe urgently required medical attention to save her life. Her bladder had ruptured in her Ottawa residence on May 9, leading to her body’s waste contaminating her bloodstream. Despite her deteriorating condition, her mother Ada Guan and Guan’s partner Justin Cassie-Berube failed to seek medical help for six days. They researched online about Chloe’s worsening symptoms, but neglected to take her to see a doctor, even as she exhibited severe signs of distress.
The court learned that their reluctance to seek medical help stemmed from fears that Chloe’s injuries, inflicted by Cassie-Berube, would be discovered. Tragically, Chloe, who had captured global attention for being born on a plane, passed away on May 15, 2020, alone in her room, neglected and suffering.
The sentencing pronounced by Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein arrives 17 months after Guan admitted to manslaughter. Guan was subsequently arrested in Calgary and detained in Ottawa for repeatedly missing court appearances. The court considered various factors, including Guan’s troubled past relationships and the number of days Chloe endured suffering, in determining the appropriate sentence.
In a separate legal proceeding in 2024, Cassie-Berube was found guilty of multiple charges related to Chloe’s death and received a 14-year prison sentence. Guan’s guilty plea to manslaughter led to the dropping of other charges against her. During the sentencing phase, emotional victim impact statements were read, highlighting the profound impact of Chloe’s tragic death on those involved in the case.
Guan expressed deep regret in court, acknowledging her failure to act and expressing a desire to have another chance to demonstrate her love for her daughter. Justice London-Weinstein emphasized the breach of trust Chloe placed in her mother and acknowledged Guan’s history of abusive relationships as contributing factors to her inaction.
Guan faces approximately nine and a half more years behind bars, with the option to appeal the sentence within 30 days.