Autopsy scheduled after sudden death of baby born on floor of Ottawa jail

CORNWALL, Ont. – An autopsy has been scheduled this week after a baby born on the floor of an Ottawa jail cell a year ago died in hospital.

Julie Bilotta’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, says the Cornwall, Ont., woman is “absolutely devastated” by the death of her one-year-old son Gionni.

Cornwall police, meanwhile, say they were called to a home around 5 a.m. Sunday after a 13-month-old boy was found without vital signs.

They say the baby was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the coroner’s office has been called in to investigate the child’s “sudden death,” which is required under provincial rules.

Bilotta gave birth prematurely on the floor of a segregation cell at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre in September of last year.

The birth took place without the help of a doctor and Bilotta said jail staff didn’t take her seriously when she said she was in labour.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services suspended or fired an undisclosed number of staff involved in the incident.