Carman Manitoba death: Mother of murdered teenager speaks out

Man, the grieving mother of a teenager who was among the family killed in Karman. is demanding answers over the weekend – despite warnings that her daughter was not safe, Winnipeg Children and Family Services said she was placed in the home where she died.

Juliet Hastings looks at photos of her eldest daughter Maya-Lee Gratton – a 17-year-old who says she is passionate about life.

Juliet Hastings (R) with her eldest daughter Maya-Lee Gratton (L) in an undated photo. Mya-Li Man was one of five victims killed in Karman. On February 11, 2024. (Sent)

“Myah, he could do anything and his heart was so pure and big,” Hastings told CTV News. “I always called him Butterfly. He was very colorful, always wanted to be around people. Be fun. Make people laugh.”

Mya-Li Man was one of five people killed in Karman. on Sunday. CTV News has confirmed that the four other victims include 30-year-old Amanda Clearwater and her three children: six-year-old Bethany, four-year-old Jayven and two-and-a-half-month-old Isabella.

Clearwater's common-law partner, Ryan Manoakisik, who was living in the home at the time, was charged with five counts of first-degree murder. The allegations have not been tested in court.

'No one listened': Mother says accused had violent episodes

“It was all avoidable – that's what interests me. Nobody listened. “No one listened,” Hastings said.

She said about 10 months ago, Winnipeg CFS placed the girl in a home with Manoakisik and Clearwater. Although not related by blood, Mya-Lee called her Aunt Mandy.

Maya-Lee Gratton is pictured in an undated photo. He was one of five victims killed in Karman, Man. On February 11, 2024. (Sent)

Hastings said Mya-Lee asked CFS to place her in Carman's home after an argument with her in April 2023.

“CFS was given to Mya and I said 'this is not right,'” Hastings said, adding that she told the CFS worker several times that she was afraid the home was not safe.

“They dismissed everything I said and just ignored it,” he said.

Hastings said Manoakisik struggled with mental health issues and had episodes of violence.

“He would throw things, scream, hit the walls. He hurt family members there,” said Hastings, who said he lived with Clearwater for a short time and was concerned about Manoakesik's behavior, which he found “terrifying.” »

“He wasn't himself. He was weird. He was angry, he talked about aliens and stars – just weird stuff,” she said.

On several occasions, Hastings said police were called to the home in connection with Manoakesik episodes. Manitoba RCMP would not confirm whether officers were called to the home before Sunday's murder, which is part of an ongoing investigation.

Manoakesik was previously charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm in 2021. In 2019, he was convicted of theft while under the influence of meth.

He said at the time he asked for mental health care in court.

“You didn't listen to me and my child is dead”

During the ten months her daughter was with the couple, although she brought her fears to CFS, Hastings said her concerns were not heard.

“You didn't listen to me anymore, my son is dead,” he said.

Maya-Lee Gratton is pictured in an undated photo. He was one of five victims killed in Karman, Man. On February 11, 2024. (Sent)

CTV News reached out to the Winnipeg Child and Family Services Agency, which deferred any comment to Manitoba's provincial communications team.

A spokesperson for the province responded with a statement to CTV News.

“As a matter of practice, the department does not comment on interactions within the CFS and it is highly inappropriate to comment on anything in the middle of a multiple homicide investigation,” the statement said.

They do not confirm that CFS took any action to address Hastings' concerns or that CFS was notified in advance of Manoakeesick during Mya-Lee's stay at the home.

The family minister says the province has “strict” licensing requirements for CFS placements

Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said in an interview with CTV News that she could not comment on the specifics of the case, but said that typically any death of a child in CFS care would result in a review by the Manitoba Child and Youth Advocate (MACY).

“Manitoba has a robust licensing regime for foster homes or child placements,” Fontaine said. “Once the investigation and, of course, the reviews come out, of course, our government is willing to look at whether those reviews say that there is a need for more stringent criteria or requirements for foster care placements.”

In a statement to CTV News, a spokeswoman for MACY said it reviews any child's death to determine whether it falls within the scope of the attorney's statutory services.

Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine is pictured in an interview with CTV News on February 13, 2024. (Source: Danton Unger / CTV News Winnipeg)

Fontaine said the death of any child in Manitoba concerns her, and said the government will do everything it can to support the protection of women and children.

Hastings said she is hiring an attorney to help her seek answers to why actions she believes could have saved her daughter's life were not taken sooner.

“I was pounding in the head and there was this anger in my chest that was suffocating me: 'Julie, you need to do more.' This is not true. It's not right.”