REMEMBERING ALEXIS

Alexis Marie Grant was 14 months old when she died.

Her family called her their “little boo.”

They remembered her bright eyes and her beautiful smile. Even in the short time Alexis was here, those expressions became some of the memories her family treasured most.

Alexis was the daughter of Treasure Grant and Mike Leavey. She had an older sister, Shyla-Fawn.

Family and friends remembered a happy little girl who followed other children around the house and was already making herself part of their games.

She was just beginning the busy toddler years.

Alexis should have had years to follow her sister around, make friends, learn new words and become the person her family was only beginning to know.

Instead, her life ended before she was even 15 months old.

ALEXIS’S STORY

On May 18, 2005, Treasure left for work.

Alexis would normally have gone to day care, but David Hersey, who was living with the family, offered to care for her that day.

Alexis’s older sister left for school shortly afterward.

David was alone with Alexis.

During the morning, Alexis began crying.

David later told investigators that he tried several things to quiet her, including giving her toys, juice and putting on cartoons.

She continued to cry.

David became increasingly frustrated.

He later described throwing a toy at Alexis while she was in her crib.

He then used a plastic toy box to pin the little girl between the box and her crib.

Alexis screamed.

The abuse continued.

David admitted dropping Alexis into her crib and throwing another toy that struck her in the face.

He then grabbed the toddler and threw her toward a couch in the living room.

He pushed a wheeled coffee table toward her, striking her and pinning her against the couch.

Alexis fell onto the table and then to the floor.

David left the room.

When he returned, Alexis was lying still.

An emergency call was eventually made.

Paramedics were initially told that Alexis had fallen down several stairs.

When they arrived, Alexis was limp and cold.

She was taken to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

Doctors found bruising on several areas of her body and catastrophic trauma to her head.

Alexis could no longer breathe on her own.

Doctors performed emergency surgery in an attempt to save her.

The injuries were too severe.

Alexis was declared brain dead.

On May 19, 2005, she was removed from life support.

An autopsy determined that Alexis died from blunt force trauma to her head.

She was 14 months old.

SYSTEM FAILURES & WARNING SIGNS

Alexis and her family had previous involvement with Alberta child welfare services.

David was living in the family home and had access to the children.

Despite that access, child welfare workers did not assess whether he posed a risk to Alexis or her sister.

After Alexis’s death, her case became one of the Alberta child deaths examined for failures in the province’s child welfare system.

The circumstances raised an important question about adults living in or regularly present in homes where vulnerable children are already known to child protection authorities.

David did not need to be Alexis’s parent to present a danger to her.

He was an adult living in her home.

He was trusted to care for her.

On May 18, he was left alone with her.

Alexis was 14 months old and had no ability to evaluate whether an adult was safe.

That responsibility belonged entirely to the adults and systems around her.

JUSTICE FOR ALEXIS

David Hersey was charged with second degree murder in Alexis’s death.

At trial, prosecutors presented his statements describing the escalating violence he used against Alexis when she would not stop crying.

The court found David not guilty of second degree murder but guilty of the lesser included offense of manslaughter.

David Hersey

Relationship to Alexis: Babysitter

Conviction: Manslaughter

Sentence: Not independently verified

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Alexis’s family did not describe her through court records.

They remembered her eyes.

They remembered her smile.

They remembered their “little boo.”

Her obituary carried a simple message from the people who loved her: Alexis would never be forgotten.

Friends remembered the little girl following another child around the house as he played.

Someone who had spent time with Alexis shortly before Christmas remembered her happy smile.

Those are tiny memories.

For a child who lived only 14 months, tiny memories become precious ones.

Alexis should have had thousands more.

Her sister should have watched her grow up.

Her parents should have discovered what made her laugh as a five year old, what interested her as a ten year old and what dreams she carried as she grew older.

Instead, Alexis’s family was left trying to preserve everything they could from 14 months.

Her bright eyes.

Her smile.

The way she followed other children around.

The little girl they called Boo.

The violence that ended Alexis’s life is part of her story, but it does not get to become all that remains of her.

Alexis Marie Grant was a daughter.

She was a little sister.

She was deeply loved.

And she was here.

Abuse Angels remembers Alexis Marie Grant.

Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.