A surprising case out of Welland has set social media ablaze. A 25-year-old man, Daniel “Dani” Senecal, has been charged with breaking right into a household’s dwelling and sexually assaulting their sleeping toddler, reported a number of media stories.Police and paramedics have been known as on Sunday, August 31, to a house close to Crowland Avenue and York Avenue after first responders found indicators of compelled entry and a significantly injured little one.The toddler has been transported out-of-region for superior medical care and is now reported as steady.Suspect recognized via surveillanceSenecal, who identifies as transgender and makes use of “she/her” pronouns on social media, was rapidly recognized after a witness got here ahead with surveillance footage, reported Reduxx. He faces a number of expenses, together with aggravated sexual assault on a toddler, assault, assault by choking, breaking and getting into, and sexual interference with a toddler.Police name it a ‘stranger assault,’ however locals disagreeNiagara Police initially described the incident as a “stranger assault” occurring between 10 pm and eight:59 am. Nevertheless, mates of the kid’s mom advised the Nationwide Submit that Senecal was identified to the household and had earlier contact with the toddler.Locals expressed confusion over the “stranger” description. One other mom within the space revealed that Senecal had assaulted her son in 2021, served a part of an 18-month sentence, and was launched six months early in March.Social media profile exhibits current transgender idSenecal’s Fb web page exhibits he has lately adopted a transgender id. He refers to himself as “Dani,” makes use of the pronouns “she/her,” and shows each homosexual satisfaction and trans satisfaction flags in his biography. A selfie taken in March exhibits he had grown out his hair and clean-shaven his beard.Elon Musk weighs inThe case additionally caught the eye of Elon Musk, who tweeted: “Excessive ranges of trans violence. This can be a SEVERE downside.” The tweet has sparked on-line debate over the intersection of gender id insurance policies and public security.Controversy over jail insurance policiesUnderneath present Ontario legislation, transgender inmates are typically housed based on their self-declared gender until authorities decide critical security or well being issues. The federal Correctional Service of Canada formalized this coverage in 2017 and strengthened it in 2022. Ontario’s provincial system adopted the same method in 2015. Quebec, nevertheless, lately adopted new guidelines requiring transgender inmates to be housed based on anatomical intercourse at delivery, following a high-profile case involving a trans-identified male who murdered his whole household.Neighborhood and ongoing investigationAuthorities proceed their investigation into Senecal’s actions. In the meantime, the Welland group is left grappling with the horrifying nature of the assault and broader questions on crime, accountability, and jail coverage in Canada.
