On December 5, 2005, Ryan John Podhorodecki slapped 2-1/2-year-old Blake Harvey twice in the head, then squeezed his face before pushing him so hard the child hit his head on a wall. Then Podhorodecki threw the boy on a bed and “folded him in half” so his feet met his head and held him there for a while.

Then Ryan Podhorodecki went to sleep.

The 2-1/2-year-old boy died three days later without ever regaining consciousness.

The coroner’s autopsy ruled the boy’s death a homicide.

Podhorodecki told police investigators Blake either got hit with a toy or fell down while play-fighting with his 3-year-old brother.

None of the injuries on the child’s body matched the story Ryan Podhorodecki told police but they lacked the evidence to build a case against the suspected killer.

So Podhorodecki was not arrested or charged with Blake Harvey’s death.

And a young mother was left alone to mourn her dead son.

It’s a heartbreaking story of human depravity – a 2-1/2-year-old child killed because a selfish man ‘just wanted to sleep’ and the boy ‘made too much noise.’

Cold Case Solved

Were it not for a cold case squad’s dedication to bringing Blake Harvey’s killer to justice, the case would remain unsolved.

Thank God for police officers who care about dead children or, more specifically, about bringing a child’s killer to justice.

A second investigation into Blake’s death used undercover police officers to befriend Podhorodecki in what’s become known as a “Mr. Big” investigation. Eventually those officers gained Podhorodecki’s trust and he confessed to causing the boy’s injuries.

In 2015, Podhorodecki was arrested in Victoria, BC, and finally charged with manslaughter for baby Blake’s death.

In January 2017, Ryan Podhorodecki pled guilty to manslaughter.

On June 13, 2017, he was sentenced to 5-1/2 years in prison.

“I don’t think it was long enough, I don’t think there will ever be a sentence long enough to bring justice for Blake,” Lindsey Garnham said after the sentence was announced.

On December 13, 2017, Ryan Podhorodecki was transferred to a correctional facility in British Columbia so he could “be closer to his family.”

In January 2018, Ryan Podhorodecki applied for ‘unescorted absences’ from the Abbotsford correctional facility so he could spend time with his wife.

At that time Podhorodecki had spent just 7 months behind bars.

A Child’s Life Devalued

Lindsey Garnham was understandably furious to learn about the impending release of her child’s killer.

What mother wouldn’t be upset to learn our justice system appears to care more about the happiness of the perpetrator – a convicted child murder – than ensuring some semblance of justice is done for the victim?

“I haven’t been able to hold my baby in over 12 years and this guy will likely get to go home to his wife ‘unescorted’ after only 7 months in prison?! Kill an innocent baby, hide for 10 years like a fucking coward, destroy and ENTIRE family… not just me… this affected my WHOLE family… and 7 months later you can apply to just ‘go home for a bit’. HOW IS THIS JUSTICE???”

It’s not justice, Lindsey. Not in the slightest.

It is, sadly, one more piece of evidence proving our justice system does not value the lives of children.

If anyone has any information about whether or not Ryan Podhorodecki was granted day or full parole please let me know. So far, I’ve been unable to find the answer.