A woman from Saskatchewan who was found guilty of causing the death of a young girl due to starvation and mistreating the child’s sister has been granted day parole. The Parole Board of Canada has approved Tammy Goforth’s request for day parole, specifying that she will be residing at an undisclosed community residential facility in Saskatchewan for a period of six months.
Tammy Goforth was convicted in 2016 of second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. The tragic incident occurred when the two sisters, under foster care with Goforth and her husband in Regina, were hospitalized in 2012, revealing severe malnourishment, dehydration, and bruises. The four-year-old girl passed away due to a brain injury from cardiac arrest, while her two-year-old sister managed to survive.
For her crimes, Goforth received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 17 years. According to the parole system, individuals serving life sentences become eligible for day parole three years before their full parole eligibility date. In Goforth’s case, her parole eligibility is calculated from her arrest in 2012 rather than the date of her sentencing.
The parole conditions for Goforth include a curfew and a restriction from having contact with children. Despite struggling to provide a clear understanding of her behavior towards the girls, the parole board assessed her as a low risk for reoffending. Goforth has demonstrated an acknowledgment of the importance of seeking assistance and perceives herself as a transformed individual.