The Pas, Manitoba – Charity Fleury poured her heart out in a Manitoba courtroom, describing the devastating loss of her 10-month-old daughter to the hands of a man she had trusted. The man, Robert Alexander Bear, had been entrusted to care for the infant. On December 15, Fleury read her victim impact statement at Bear’s sentencing in The Pas. She expressed the “unimaginable horror” she experienced at the loss of her daughter and the deep pain that will stay with her for a lifetime.
Fleury’s daughter, Chase Pearl McCallum-Fleury, was discovered in medical distress at their home in Flin Flon on August 11, 2020. Shockingly, Bear, who was Fleury’s boyfriend at the time, had volunteered to watch the baby while Fleury was at work. It was revealed in court that just a few days prior to Chase’s death, she had suffered a broken arm while under Bear’s care.
Bear, 28, was arrested in 2021 and charged with second-degree murder in Chase’s death. Although there was no clear explanation for the fatal injury, a full medical report ruled out the possibility of it being accidental. He was eventually convicted of second-degree murder on July 7, 2023. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 13 years.
During the sentencing, the judge expressed the gravity of Bear’s actions, emphasizing the lack of a reasonable explanation for Chase’s death. Both parties’ families spoke at the hearing, detailing the emotional impact of the tragedy. Bear offered an apology, but that did little to console the family members who mourned the loss of the young life.
Despite the indescribable pain and anger she feels toward Bear, Fleury acknowledged the need to start forgiving herself. She recognizes that her daughter would not want her to carry the weight of the pain and guilt forever. Instead, she is determined to embark on a journey of forgiveness, not for Bear, but for herself.
The case of Chase’s death serves as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of such tragedies on families, leaving an irreversible scar on the hearts of those affected.