North Bay Police investigate 'BabyKiller' Facebook postings

Members of a Facebook group on the internet who are allegedly condemning Tabitha Etches, the 25-year-old woman arrested Friday and charged with Infanticide and Neglect in Obtaining Assistance in Childbirth, have raised concerns for local authorities.

Upset by the fact that if found guilty of Infanticide the maximum penalty is 5 years, the Facebook group titled ‘The Voices for North Bay’s Baby Doe’ is calling for people to picket outside the North Bay Courthouse on June 26th. A move that has area law enforcement officers concerned for the safety of everyone involved with the case.

Some postings of the 200 plus member group call Etches a ‘Babykiller’ and ‘Murderer’ and advocate that she be run out of town.

“5 years!!! She Murdered, She Needs Life in Prison, there should be no less for such an awful crime,” is how one poster expressed her views.

North Bay police Sergeant Chuck Seguin told BayToday.ca that the issue is being investigated and based on the results of the investigation whatever needs to be done will be done. He maintained that issues such as the comments on the webpage are taken very seriously and the service will not stand for any type vigilantism.

“We have an obligation to protect the judiciary system,” says Seguin.

He adds that the goal of the service is to see that the accused get a fair trial and that the case or the justice system not be jeopardised in the process.

“Some people have expressed some very strong opinions,” he says.

“If steps have to be taken, we will take them.”

“It is important not to have the case tried in the public eye before it gets into the courts.”

Although Etches was granted bail Monday she is still in custody at the North Bay Jail because her father, Bruce Etches decided not to act as her surety.

Etches will be back in court June 26th.