Last weekend, a quiet street in Welland, Ontario, Canada, turned into a scene of horror after a break-in left a young child seriously injured.
Just before 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, the Niagara Regional Police received a desperate call for medical assistance.
The call came from a home near Crowland Avenue and York Street, and it involved a child under five years old.
According to police reports, the parents said they woke up to discover that their front door had been forced open overnight.
Tragically, they also found out that their young child had been sexually assaulted in a violent way, while they slept.
First responders arrived quickly and examined the child at the scene before rushing them to an out-of-region hospital for advanced medical care.
According to the latest updates from Global News, the child remains in the hospital in stable condition.
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| Daniel Senecal |
Crime scene investigators later determined that the break-in happened sometime between 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday morning, when the 911 call was made.
“When officers arrived, they noticed the front door showed signs of being forced open,” police stated.
During their investigation, the police canvassed the area looking for clues and luckily, one neighbor provided crucial video surveillance footage of the general area, which led to a breakthrough.
This footage helped investigators to quickly identify a suspect, leading to the arrest of 25-year-old Daniel Senecal, a resident of Welland.
Daniel Senecal now faces a series of serious charges, including:
- Aggravated sexual assault on a person under 16
- Assault
- Assault/Choking
- Break and Enter
- Sexual interference with a person under 16
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| Daniel Senecal being arrested |
What makes this case even more alarming is the suspect’s past.
According to court documents sighted by Global News, Daniel Senecal has a previous conviction for a similar violent act.
In September 2021, Senecal was arrested in Welland and charged with sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 16, and attempt to strangle during a sexual assault.
In December 2023, he was found guilty of the sexual assault charge and acquitted of the attempt to strangle charge.
As a result of that conviction, Senecal was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for 20 years.
He was released from custody in March 2024 with specific conditions, which includes that he comply with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act for two decades.
This history raises serious questions about community safety and the judicial process for violent offenders.
Senecal is still in custody and is set to appear in court by video on September 10. 2025, as per CTV News
Niagara Regional Police are still investigating and are asking anyone with information to speak up.
If you saw something or know anything that could help, call Niagara Police at 905-688-4111, option #3, ext. 1009898. You can also share tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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