Mother makes first court appearance after toddler found dead in Quebec City

The mother of a toddler who was found dead in Quebec City yesterday hasbeen charged with obstructing the work of a police officer and setting fire to a police station.

Audrey Gagnon'scourt appearance, scheduled for Thursday morning,was delayed after she was sent to hospital with self-inflicted injuries, suffered while she was in police custody.

Gagnon, 23, was released from hospital and appeared in court Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, Quebec City police said they were recommending that Gagnon be charged in the death of her two-year-old daughter, Rosalie.

Gagnon remains in custody, and abail hearing is scheduled fornext Wednesday.

Her defence lawyer said in court Thursday he has not yet received any evidence.

Autopsy to be performed today

Rosalie's bodywas found in a garbage bin behind a home on de Gaulle Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, in the city's Charlesbourgneighbourhood. The toddler was pronounced dead in hospital.

Police saidan autopsy will be performed on the girl on Thursdayto determine the exact cause of death.

Neighbourhood residents placed flowers and stuffed animals outside the home where the child's body was found.

Genevive Charbonneau, a mother of five, came to pay her respects.

"I'm [a] single mom, and I don't have the words for this. But I'm in shock," Charbonneau said.

The search for the mother and toddler started around 7 a.m. ET Wednesday after someone found an empty baby stroller in Bon-Air Park and contacted police.

Police found the womanin an apartment on GaspardAvenue, about two kilometres away from the park in the Beauport neighbourhood,around 3:30 p.m.

She was with a man at the time. Police saidboth were interviewed,but the man was eventually released. He will not be charged.

Gagnon was previously convicted of aggravated assault in 2014, and of assault in 2015.