They'll remember him as an angel.

The paternal grandparents of a two-year-old slain in Oshawa told the Sun yesterday that Durham Region's first murder of 2010 has stolen "the sweetest little boy" and the "grandchild that every grandparent would want" from their lives.

"You know that song, you light up my life, that's all I could think of with him is that he lit up all our lives with that little spark," his grandmother said yesterday. "My son (the boy's father) did say to the fact that, 'I never thought I'd see the happiest day and the saddest day of my life within three years.'"

Durham Regional Police announced yesterday they had charged a 26-year-old caregiver, said to be the boyfriend of the toddler's mother, with second-degree murder. He is to be back in court Wednesday.

Police initially named both the accused and the victim but hours later they stated that information was now subject to a sweeping publication ban issued by a justice of the peace in an Oshawa court.

The grandmother, who also cannot be identified to avoid breaking the ban, said she doesn't know what happened to her grandson, only that they received a phone call Tuesday telling them to come to Lakeridge Health Centre's Oshawa site where his lifeless body waited for them after emergency crews responded to a 911 call. Staff allowed them a few moments to say goodbye.

"If it had of been H1N1, something like that that we had no control over, we could have accepted that," she said. "But this is a poor, little, innocent boy, he never had a care in the world."

She said her son, who had been apart from the toddler's mother since April, had custody of the boy every other weekend. This coming weekend they were supposed to see their grandson again, the first visit since they spent Christmas together.

"He was your dream grandchild and he was his daddy's best friend," she said. "His dad was his world and he was his dad's world.

"That's why it is such a shock to us."

The boy's parents started a Facebook page in memory of him that last night had grown to more than 800 members.

His father wrote on Wednesday that he still couldn't believe his little man was gone, noting that he slept with a picture of his son that he just couldn't let go.

"I woke up today not wanting to ever wake up because I knew this would be the first day of my life without him and that maybe if I didn't I could be with him," he wrote.

The boy's mother wrote on Facebook that her life will never be the same without her son.

"I wish I had some profound words to say but I am speechless," she wrote. "I love you ... and you will never leave my heart."

Last night, police were still guarding the Southgate Dr. basement apartment where the toddler was found with the accused on Tuesday.

A neighbour said she's known the boy's mom and dad for six years.

"This is just a hard time for family and friends and everyone because you just don't expect a two-year-old (to be murdered)," she said, adding it is especially upsetting knowing the tot just celebrated Christmas.

She and others in the neighbourhood often saw the boy out and about with his mom.

"He was always happy and smiling. It's just not right," she said. "This was a little boy. It's just upsetting."

Addressing reporters outside the home, Insp. Jamie Grant called it a tragic situation.

"Children are so innocent and to see them in a position where they can't defend themselves against these terrible crimes it's sad," he said.

The family has started a trust fund to cover funeral costs. The account has been set up at CIBC, the account information is 02142-5495385.

don.peat@sunmedia.ca