Her friends say they cannot believe that Nicole Redhead would harm her daughter, let alone be implicated in her death.
The 27-year-old was charged with second degree murder Thursday in the death of her 20-month-old daughter Jaylene.
Rachel Lamirande met Nicole Redhead in 2007 when the two lived in the same transition home.
She is still shocked by news her friend is charged with killing her own daughter.
"She was a good mother, very, very patient," recalls Lamirande.
Redhead's daughter Jayleen died June 29, 2009 after being rushed to hospital.
"There was evidence to suggest the child had been physically assaulted prior to being taken to hospital," Cst. Jacqueline Chaput of the Winnipeg Police Service said.
Jayleen was the youngest of Redhead's three children, all wards of Child and Family Services.
Before being returned to her mother last winter Jayleen was under the care of the Awasis Agency where there have been four other child deaths since 2004.
It is a trend that some are finding disturbing.
"That is no longer acceptable, it's just not, otherwise more children will die," child and women's advocate Belinda Vandenbroeck said.
She has advocated for the needs of women and children for decades and says the child welfare system is simply not working.
Phoenix Sinclair was killed by her mother and step-father after being in and out of care for most of her young life.
Gauge Guimond was only two when he was beaten to death by his caregiver while under the care of CFS.
Vandenbroeck says the instances are too common, and says there needs to be more healing and education within the system which includes culture and tradition.
Lamirande says she saw Redhead just hours before she was arrested, and says she was carrying another baby with just weeks until she is to give birth.
With a report from CTV's Shaneen Robinson
