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 Recent News Accused mother ordered to stand trial Published in the London Free Press Mon, February 2, 2009 ST. THOMAS — Sarah Whittington was ordered to trial yesterday on a charge of causing an indignity to a body in the disappearance of her month-old baby girl in 2007. Justice Gregory Pockele ruled Whittington stand trial, following a preliminary hearing. A publication ban was imposed on evidence heard. Whittington, 34, was charged following the disappearance of Abbygail Dice on Sept. 18, 2007. Whittington is to return to court here Feb. 20 HEARING TO FEB. 2 Posted in the St. Thomas Journal The preliminary inquiry into a charge arising from the disappearance of baby Abbygail Dice was adjourned Friday until Feb. 2. St. Thomas mom Sara Whittington is charged with indignity to a body after her infant daughter disappeared in September, 2007. The child has not been found. The hearing opened Wednesday. Justice Gregory Pockele will determine if a trial is warranted. A court-ordered publication ban protects the details of the hearing. News Few attend Abbygail hearing Posted By Kyle Rea, TIMES-JOURNAL STAFF Posted today January 15, 2009 in St. Thomas Journal-Times A preliminary hearing opened Wednesday for a St. Thomas mother charged with indignity to a human body after the disappearance of her one-month-old daughter, Abbygail. But a case that generated plenty of public interest when it first broke in September, 2007, drew only four people to court proceedings. Dressed in a green top with a green-and-white skirt, Sara Whittington, 33, sat quietly, taking notes and listening to testimony during her appearance in St. Thomas court. She was flanked by her two lawyers, Bill Glover and Bevan Earhart. Justice Gregory Pockele is hearing the case. A preliminary hearing allows both the Crown and defence to call witnesses and test the evidence in a case. At the end, the presiding judge will determine if there's enough evidence to send the case to trial. Details of the hearing are under a court-ordered publication ban. Only four people -- two members of the public, along with representatives from the Times-Journal and London Free Press -- attended the hearing Wednesday morning. Two people were in the public gallery for afternoon proceedings. Abbygail was last seen with her mother on Sept. 18, 2007. Two days later, Whittington was found unconscious and in a diabetic coma in her 88 Confederation Dr. apartment. Her daughter was nowhere to be found and that immediately sparked an extensive police investigation. Abbygail's disappearance also galvanized the community which came together to search nearby neighbourhoods as well as wooded areas and fields for the infant. Abbygail has never been found. Whittington was subsequently arrested in May, 2008 and charged with indignity to a human body. She was released on bail May 5 with a $25,000 surety with conditions. The preliminary hearing is set to resume at 10 a.m. today and continue on Friday. Feb. 2 has also been set aside as a fourth day, if necessary Hearing begins for mother of Baby Abbygail Taken from the London Free Press Wed, January 14, 2009 St. Thomas newborn was one month old when she disappeared By JANE SIMS, SUN MEDIA A St. Thomas mother charged with causing an indignity to her infant daughter's body began a preliminary hearing this morning. Sara Whittington sat quietly in the Ontario Court of Justice beside her lawyer Bill Glover, sometimes taking notes as evidence began in the disappearance of Abbygail Dice. Baby Abbygail was one month old when she vanished without a trace on Sept. 17, 2007. Ontario Court Justice Gregory Pockele ordered a publication ban on the evidence. The hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence for the case to go on to trial. Whittington has been out of custody and on bail since her arrest last May. At that time, St. Thomas police said they believed the baby's body was disposed at Hawk Cliff, just east of Port Stanley along Lake Erie. No body has ever been found. Glover has been steadfast in support of his client, holding media coferences in the early days of the investigation proclaiming Whittington's innocence. Whittington was found alone in her Confederation Drive apartment in September, 2007. She claimed to have no memory about what happened to the child. There were reports she was in a diabetic coma. She spent several days in hospital. The hearing is expected to last the rest of the week. For the full story, read tomorrow’s Free Press on the web or in print. Jane Sims is Free Press justice reporter Whittington over to preliminary Posted By Times-Journal Staff Up to five days of court time have been scheduled for the preliminary hearing in the case of Sara Whittington of St. Thomas, facing charges of causing indignity to a body in connection with the disappearance of her baby girl. Whittington's lawyer, Bill Glover, appeared before Justice Michael O'Dea in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Thomas Tuesday to confirm the dates for the preliminary hearing. It will start Jan. 14 and continue Jan. 15, 16 with the remaining days to be confirmed on Jan. 16 if necessary. "The fourth day will be confirmed Jan. 16," O'Dea told Glover during a brief hearing. Whittington, 34, was charged with causing an indignity to a human body on May 1 in connection with the disappearance of one-month-old Abbygail Dice on Sept. 18, 2007. Abbygail, Whittington's daughter, has never been found. Whittington was released on a $25,000 surety and agreed to comply with conditions. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence to commit the case to trial in another court. Whittington back on Dec. 23 Posted By Kyle Rea, TIMES-JOURNAL STAFF Posted in the St. Thomas Times Journal The case of a St. Thomas woman charged with causing an indignity to a body after her one-month-old daughter went missing last September will return to court in three weeks' time. Sara Whittington, 33, didn't appear in St. Thomas court Tuesday, but her lawyer Bill Glover appeared on her behalf. Crown attorney Doug Walker asked that the case be adjourned to Dec. 23 so they can subpoena one remaining witness, a police officer, in the case. Justice Michael O'Dea agreed to the adjournment. Whittington was charged with causing an indignity to a human body on May 1 in connection with the disappearance of one-month-old Abbygail Dice on Sept. 18, 2007. Abbygail, her daughter, has never been found. Whittington was released on bail with a $25,000 surety and agreed to comply with conditions. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 14-16 in the Ontario Court of Justice, St. Thomas. The maximum sentence for causing an indignity to a body is five years in prison Prelim for Whittington Posted By Kyle Rea, TIMES-JOURNAL STAFF Posted in the St. Thomas Times Journal A preliminary hearing date has been set for early next year for a St. Thomas woman charged with causing an indignity to a body after her one-month-old daughter went missing last September. Sara Whittington, 33, is to have a hearing Jan. 14-16, in the Ontario Court of Justice, St. Thomas, to see if there is enough evidence to send her case to trial. Speaking before Justice John Getliffe, Crown attorney Doug Walker said results of a focus hearing held Thursday between himself, defence lawyer Bill Glover and Justice Gregory Pockele, revealed three days would be required for a hearing. Walker said a fourth day might be required. "We're optimistic this can be done in three days." A confirmation hearing, to make sure the case is on track, is set for Dec. 2. Whittington was charged with causing an indignity to a human body on May 1 in connection with the disappearance of one-month-old Abbygail Dice on Sept. 18, 2007. Abbygail has never been found. Whittington was released on bail with a $25,000 surety and agreed to comply with conditions, which include residing at her parent's home in London, Ont., not to own nor possess firearms and to have any change of address approved by the court. The maximum sentence for causing an indignity to a body is five years in prison. Questions linger one year after disappearance By JOE BELANGER Taken from the London Free Press on September 17, 08 The two memories are forever etched in Connie Fortin's mind. The first was greeting a beautiful, month-old baby girl and her proud, happy mother outside their Confederation Drive apartment in St. Thomas. The second, two days later, was finding the mother, Sara Whittington, alone and near death in her apartment, the baby, Abbygail Dice, missing. The disappearance sparked searches by police, concerned friends, family and strangers. Candlelight vigils and marches were held, while appeals went out for the baby's safe return. Tomorrow marks one year since Abbygail was last seen alive, which was during that encounter with Fortin. "She was just laying there in the stroller, bright eyes looking around and I'd talk to her and she'd have this little smile on her face," recalled Fortin. "Sara was just happy, showing off her baby." Since then, Whittington, the first and only suspect identified by police, has been charged with committing an indignity to a body. At the time, she was pregnant. Fortin remembers entering the apartment's bedroom with Whittington's mother. "She (Sara) sat up in the bed and looked at me and her mother like, 'Who are you?' " recalled Fortin. "And when we asked her about the baby, she said, 'What baby?' " Whittington, a diabetic, was taken to hospital, where she spent several days in intensive care suffering from what doctors diagnosed as ketoacidosis, or soaring blood sugar, a condition that can cause amnesia. Since then, Whittington hasn't provided investigators or the public any explanation of what happened to Abbygail. Whittington offered a $25,000 reward for the baby's return. Her lawyer, Bill Glover, has suggested someone else was at Whittington's Confederation Drive apartment between Sept. 18 and 20. Police allege Abbygail's body was disposed of at Hawk's Cliff, overlooking Lake Erie just east of Port Stanley, a popular spot for bird watchers this time of year. Glover said his client declined to comment about the anniversary. "Sara is suffering over the upcoming anniversary," he said. "We have great concern for her at this difficult time." Fortin said people still talk about the case, many frustrated the fate of the baby is unknown. "I just can't get over it," said Fortin. "After a year and still nothing? Those were the worst days of my life, days I won't ever forget." A vigil is planned tomorrow at 6 p.m. outside 88 Confederation Dr., as well as a walk Saturday that will end at the police station. St. Thomas police, meanwhile, would say little because the case is before the courts. "If anyone has any new information, we will investigate," said Staff Sgt. Russ Yates. St. Thomas Tragedy Remembered Abbygail Dice would have celebrated her first birthday today. Tonight, there will be a vigil to remember the St. Thomas infant who disappeared from her apartment in September of last year. Organizer Vicki Wooley says people will gather at Hawk Cliff near Port Stanley tonight at six to mourn her loss and demand answers. Police believe Abbygail's body may have been thrown off the cliff and into Lake Erie. Her mother, 32-year old Sara Whittington, is charged with Causing an Indignity to a Human Body. Story taken from A Channel News
Elgin County : Baby Abbygail's Mom Back in Court Next Month The case of baby Abbygail will return to court in September. Sara Whittington is accused of Causing an Indignity to a Body, though her daughters's body has never been found - she has been missing since last September when Whittington claims she lost a few days because of medical complications. Police have said they believe the one-month old may have been thrown over Hawk Cliff, just east of Port Stanley. 33 year-old Whittington was in Saint Thomas Court Wednesday, and will return on September 25th.
This story was taken from CD98.9 - News Centre
Focus hearing for Whittington Posted By Times-Journal Staff A focus hearing is set for next month in the case of a St. Thomas woman charged with causing an indignity to a body in connection
with the disappearance of her one-month old daughter. Sara Whittington, 32, the mother of missing baby Abbygail,
didn't appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, St. Thomas, Tuesday but lawyer Bill Glover,
acting on her behalf, asked to set a focus hearing date for 10 a.m. on Aug. 6. Held in judge's chambers,
the aim of a focus hearing is to narrow the scope of a preliminary inquiry. Glover also noted that Justice Gregory Pockele has been assigned to the case.
Whittington was charged on May 1 in connection with the disappearance of one-month-old Abbygail Dice on Sept. 18. Abbygail has never been found.
Whittington was released on bail with a $25,000 surety and agreed to comply with conditions, which include residing at her parent's home in London,
not to own nor possess firearms and to have any change of address approved by the court. Posted in the St. Thomas Times-Journal approximately on July 17/08
The baby Abbygail case returned to court briefly yesterday and will return again next month. Acting Elgin County Crown attorney Doug Walker and defence lawyer Bill Glover asked that the case return to court July 15. By then, it's hoped a judge will be assigned to hear the preliminary hearing. Ontario Court Justice John Getliffe agreed with the lawyers' request. Source: Baby
Abbygail case returned to court on June 24, 2008 and returns back on July
15, 08 published in the London Free Press on June 25, 2008
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