Daniel Senecal, pictured here, remains in custody and was set to appear in court on Monday. National Post
Police in Welland arrested a 25-year-old man after a violent sexual assault on a toddler inside a home. The incident happened overnight between Saturday, August 30, and Sunday morning.
Police said someone forced open the front door and entered while the parents slept. The intruder attacked the young girl, who is under five years old.
Officers arrived at the home at 8:59 a.m. Sunday after reports of an injured child. They saw signs of forced entry and found the child with serious injuries. Paramedics rushed her to a specialist hospital. She remains in stable condition.
Accused Identified
Police identified the suspect as Daniel Senecal, 25, of Welland. He faces several charges, including aggravated sexual assault, assault by choking, breaking and entering, and sexual interference with a child.
Detectives from the Child Abuse Unit, along with sexual assault investigators and forensic services, are handling the case. Senecal remains in custody and was scheduled for court on Monday.
Suspect Known to Family
Although police described the case as a stranger attack, friends of the victim’s mother claim Senecal was known to the family and had contact with the child before.
Neighbours told reporters that police reviewed surveillance video from the area and quickly identified the suspect. Officers arrested him later that day.
One neighbour recalled hearing officers say they were arresting him for sexual assault of a minor. “This is bad. This is very, very bad. This needs to be addressed,” she said.
History of Past Offence
Another mother in the community said Senecal assaulted her young son in 2021. She explained the case also involved a nighttime attack, though that time he was a guest in a relative’s home.
He served 18 months in jail but was released six months early this March. “That poor little girl, my heart breaks,” she said. She added that she felt let down by the justice system.
Community in Shock
Local business owner Koreen Perry, a friend of the family, described the young victim as a joyful child who loved to sing and dance. She recalled the girl waving and smiling at her store just days earlier.
“This little girl is always happy and loving. It’s scary to see how things can happen, in your own home when you’re sleeping,” Perry said. She added the family plans to burn the child’s bed before she returns home.
Questions About Police Statement
Many in the community questioned why police initially called the incident a “stranger attack.” Friends of the family insisted the accused knew the parents. Police did not respond to requests for clarification.
For now, the community waits as investigators continue their work.
