A man in his mid-40s remained in custody Friday evening after police found the body of a young child in his home in Delta, B.C.

Delta police spokesman Const. Paul Eisenzimmer has not confirmed the identities of the man in custody or the dead child.
(CBC)

Police have not released the names of the man or the child, but said they believe there's a family connection between the two.

Meanwhile, a woman who had lived in the home told CBC News that the man in custody is the child's father. 

A homicide investigation is underway, but the accused has not been charged, said Delta police spokesman Const. Paul Eisenzimmer.

"This morning, Delta police responded to a call to the 7888 116 St. of a possible homicide," Eisenzimmer said. "Our officers arrived at the scene and confirmed a young child was in fact dead. A single male has been arrested for investigation of homicide."

Police released few other details.

Surinder Kaur Johal, who used to live in the basement of the home, says the man in custody is Lakhwinder Kahlon and the dead child is his 18-month-old daughter, Rajwinder.
(CBC)

Surinder Kaur Johal, who lived in the home's basement for three years, told CBC News the man in custody is Lakhwinder Kahlon, and the dead child is his 18-month-old daughter, Rajwinder.

The home is registered to Manjit and Lakhwinder Kahlon. Neighbours told CBC News the Kahlon family had three daughters ranging in age from 18 months to 12 years old.

Johal said she still socialized with the family and called them a nice family.

She said Kahlon, a drywaller, had started taking medication for depression after the birth of his third daughter and had stopped working.

Delta police obtained a warrant and on Friday evening entered the home at 7888 116 St., where the body a young child was found in the morning.
(CBC)

Johal said Kahlon's wife, Manjit, called her two days ago, saying she wasn't going to work because her child wasn't sleeping.

"She [Manjit] said, 'I'm not going because the girl isn't sleeping.… Lakhwinder is beating her every night because she won't let him sleep,'" said Johal in her native language, Punjabi.

Delta police have not said who else lived in the residence.

"The female occupant of the house, I believe, has been … I don't know if she's present at the time. I can't confirm or deny that," said Eisenzimmer.

Police obtained a search warrant late Friday afternoon and entered the crime scene. The body of the toddler was taken out at night, but police didn't give any new information, except that their investigation was ongoing.