The journey of 5-year-old Chloe, who was tragically taken from this world, is a painful story of systemic failures and devastating maternal decisions. Chloe was born in 2015 to Deseree “Aida” Manoso, a Filipina single mother, and Wes Branch, a Canadian.

The parents, young and struggling, quickly found that they were ill-equipped for parenthood, often fighting in front of the infant.

Child Welfare Services intervened for Chloe’s safety. After careful assessment of the parents’ instability, the child was removed from their care and placed into the foster care system.

Aida’s promise to fight for her daughter’s return seemed sincere; she eventually recommended her own family members, Sam Guan and Winnie Wong, as suitable guardians.

In 2016, Sam and Winnie, successful professionals and loving grandparents, were granted custody of Chloe. The child thrived under their care, evolving from a shy infant into a happy, sociable toddler.

However, despite the grandparents’ stability and commitment, Child Services ultimately prioritized biological ties.

In a decision that shocked Sam and Winnie, the agency returned three-year-old Chloe to her biological mother, Aida, who had relocated to Ottawa and begun a new life.

Aida was soon living with a new partner, Justin Casci-Berube, a French-Canadian man who was quickly revealed to have a controlling and violent temper.

The supposed “honeymoon phase” of Aida’s new relationship ended abruptly, and the couple began fighting frequently. Justin, highly insecure and possessive, resorted to threats of self-harm whenever Aida attempted to leave him. Tragically, his violence soon turned towards Chloe.

The little girl, still recovering from the trauma of being removed from her stable foster home, became the target of Justin’s aggression.

He allegedly subjected her to physical harm, including slaps to the face, beatings with a coat hanger, and hitting her abdomen with a blunt object.

Neighbors who spoke to the court testified to seeing Chloe with severe bruises, but they accepted Justin’s explanation that the child fell out of bed often. The true horror lay with Aida herself.

Court records revealed text messages between Aida and Justin where Aida acknowledged the abuse.

She pleaded with Justin to “be careful” with his slaps, stating that she was tired of applying makeup to Chloe’s face to hide the bruises before taking her out in public.

Aida, paralyzed by fear and psychological trauma from Justin’s threats, failed to seek medical attention for her daughter’s increasingly severe injuries.

She confessed that she did not call 911 because she was afraid that seeking help would lead to Justin harming her or revealing the abuse, leaving her utterly isolated and defenseless.

On May 15, 2020, just days after her fifth birthday, Chloe’s small body gave out.

The autopsy report confirmed the cause of passing was peritonitis due to a ruptured bladder, caused by a powerful, untreated blow to her abdomen.

The injury had gone undiagnosed for a week, and her body eventually succumbed to the internal infection.

The biological father, Wes Branch, expressed profound regret, stating he should have fought harder to ensure Chloe’s safety.

Aida Manoso was charged with criminal negligence for failing to provide the necessities of life. Justin Casci-Berube was charged with five counts, including second-degree taking of life.

In 2023, Justin Casci-Berube was found guilty and sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Adelsons, the foster grandparents, were enraged by the perceived leniency of the sentence, arguing that the system had failed Chloe at every level.

Aida Manoso is currently serving a sentence for her criminal negligence, a painful closure to a case marked by fatal maternal failure and unchecked violence.