Anke Doehm Found Guilty in Foster Daughter’s Death

Sixty-three-year-old, Anke Doehm, has been found guilty of cruelty to a child for the 2017 death of her foster-daughter, 13-year-old, Faye Lin Canon. Doehm’s trial concluded today before Justice Derick Sylvester in the Belize High Court. A nine-member jury deliberated for three hours before arriving at a unanimous guilty verdict. Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lyn Vidal, handled the case personally and provided evidence that showed that Canon was malnourished and that her parents did nothing to help her. The prosecution also had Doehm’s sister testify remotely, that she saw Doehm’s late husband David Doehm stomp Canon in the chest. The child’s breathing became irregular after the incident but she was never taken for medical treatment. David Doehm had originally been charged with Canon’s death back in 2017 but he later committed suicide leaving Anke to face the charge alone. She was defended in court by attorney Adolph Lucas Senior. In her defense, Doehm gave a dock statement saying that she was never cruel to her child. Justice Sylvester reserved sentencing for Friday, March 15.