Sandy Bay man receives life sentence for death of ex’s baby girl

By Nigel Maxwell

A man responsible for the death of his ex-girlfriend’s baby girl has received a life sentence and won’t be eligible for parole for 13 years.

Robert Alexander Bear’s case was discussed last Friday at Court of King’s Bench in The Pas, Man. Following trial, he was found guilty in July of second-degree murder.

On Aug. 11, 2020, Flin Flon RCMP received a report of an infant in medical distress in the town of Flin Flon. Officers attended along with EMS and located an unresponsive 10-month-old girl who was pronounced dead.

In January of 2021, following completion of a full medical report, the RCMP received further information that indicated the injuries sustained by the young child were not accidental and the matter was deemed to be a homicide.

Two months later, Bear, who had attended the funeral and sat beside the mother, was arrested at his home in Sandy Bay and transported to Manitoba to answer to the charge.

Sources close to the incident have previously disclosed to paNOW that Bear was living with the girl’s mother, and was left alone to babysit while the mother was away at work.

The Crown had been seeking parole eligibility of 15 years, while defence suggested 10 to 11 years was more appropriate.

In addition to the prison sentence, Bear won’t be allowed to possess any firearms or explosives for a period of 10 years.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been amended to correct the sentence Bear received.